Upward and upwards are both correct, but they do not have exactly the same grammatical role. Upward can function as an adjective or adverb, whereas upwards functions as an adverb. As adverbs, the two words usually have the same basic meaning: toward a higher position or level.
The easiest way to understand the difference is to look at what each word modifies.
| Word | Part of speech | Common use | Example |
| upward | Adjective | Describes a noun | an upward trend |
| upward | Adverb | Describes movement or direction | The bird flew upward. |
| upwards | Adverb | Describes movement or direction | The bird flew upwards. |
| upwards of | Fixed expression | Means more than or at least | upwards of $10,000 |
This creates an important distinction.
When upward comes directly before a noun, you cannot normally replace it with upwards.
For example:
- an upward trend ✓
- upward movement ✓
- upward pressure ✓
- upward mobility ✓
- an upwards trend ✗ in standard usage
But when the word describes an action rather than a noun, both forms can work:
- She looked upward.
- She looked upwards.
Neither sentence has a fundamentally different meaning.
The simplest rule for upward vs. upwards
If you’re stuck between the two, ask yourself one question:
Is the word directly describing a noun?
If yes, choose upward.
If not, and you’re describing movement or direction, upward and upwards are often interchangeable.
Consider these examples:
The company experienced an upward trend in sales.
Here, upward modifies trend, so upward is the correct choice.
Now compare:
Sales continued to move upward.
Here, upward describes the direction of movement. You could also write:
Sales continued to move upwards.
Both work.
When to Use “Upward”
Use upward when you need an adjective before a noun or when you want an adverb describing movement toward a higher position or level. It is especially common in American English and is widely used in formal, academic, business, financial, and technical writing.
The word has a surprisingly broad range of applications.
You can use it to describe physical movement:
- The elevator moved upward.
- She pointed upward.
- The rocket traveled upward.
You can also use it figuratively:
- Prices moved upward.
- The company is on an upward trajectory.
- His career followed an upward path.
“Upward” as an adjective
Upward works as an adjective when it describes a noun associated with an increase, higher position, or movement toward a higher level.
This is one of the most important uses to remember.
Examples include:
- an upward trend
- an upward movement
- an upward direction
- an upward shift
- an upward trajectory
- an upward adjustment
- an upward revision
- an upward swing
- an upward climb
- upward mobility
Notice that upward comes before the noun in each example.
Why “upwards” doesn’t normally work here
A common mistake is assuming that because upwards means “toward a higher position,” it can replace upward everywhere.
It can’t.
Consider:
The company reported an upward trend in revenue.
Here, upward acts as an adjective.
Changing it to:
The company reported an upwards trend in revenue.
makes the construction awkward and nonstandard.
The problem isn’t that upwards is an incorrect word. It is that upwards is an adverb, not the adjective needed to modify “trend.”
The same pattern appears in other expressions:
| Preferred | Less appropriate |
| upward trend | upwards trend |
| upward movement | upwards movement |
| upward pressure | upwards pressure |
| upward trajectory | upwards trajectory |
| upward adjustment | upwards adjustment |
| upward shift | upwards shift |
| upward mobility | upwards mobility |
This distinction is particularly useful when writing professionally.
“Upward” as an adverb
Upward can also function as an adverb. In this role, it tells you the direction in which someone or something moves, looks, points, rises, or travels.
Examples:
- The balloon floated upward.
- He glanced upward.
- The smoke rose upward.
- The dog jumped upward.
- The elevator moved upward.
- The arrow points upward.
You can often substitute upwards in these sentences:
- The balloon floated upwards.
- He glanced upwards.
- The smoke rose upwards.
- The dog jumped upwards.
The meaning stays essentially the same.
Common phrases with “upward”
Upward appears in many established English expressions. Some refer to physical direction, while others describe improvement, growth, or an increase.
Here are some particularly useful examples:
Upward trend
A pattern in which something increases over time.
The company has experienced an upward trend in quarterly revenue.
Upward mobility
Movement toward a higher social or economic position.
Education can create opportunities for upward mobility.
Upward pressure
A force or condition that causes something to increase.
Rising fuel costs are putting upward pressure on transportation prices.
Upward trajectory
A continuing pattern of growth or improvement.
After several difficult years, the business is finally on an upward trajectory.
Upward adjustment
An increase made to an existing figure, estimate, or value.
The analyst made an upward adjustment to the earnings forecast.
Upward movement
Movement toward a higher physical or numerical position.
The graph shows clear upward movement during the second quarter.
When to Use “Upwards”
Use upwards as an adverb when describing movement, direction, or an increase toward a higher level. It is especially common in British English, although American English speakers also use it. It can also appear in the established phrase “upwards of,” which means more than or at least a specified amount.
For example:
The kite drifted upwards in the wind.
Here, upwards tells us the direction of the kite.
You could equally write:
The kite drifted upward in the wind.
The basic meaning doesn’t change.
“Upwards” as an adverb
Unlike upward, upwards does not normally function as an adjective.
Its main job is to modify verbs or describe direction.
Examples:
- The stairs lead upwards.
- She looked upwards.
- The smoke moved upwards.
- The balloon rose upwards.
- The temperature continued upwards.
- The graph slopes upwards.
In each case, upwards describes a direction or movement.
“Upwards” for increases and higher amounts
The meaning of upwards isn’t limited to physical movement.
English frequently uses upward direction metaphorically to describe increases in numbers, prices, rates, quantities, or levels.
For example:
Interest rates are moving upwards.
Nothing is physically moving upward. The phrase describes an increase.
You can use the same idea with:
- prices
- salaries
- temperatures
- production
- population
- costs
- rankings
- estimates
- sales
- interest rates
Examples:
Housing costs have been moving upwards.
The company’s expenses continued to climb upwards.
The number of applicants is trending upwards.
Temperatures are expected to move upwards this afternoon.
In American English, you could often replace upwards with upward without changing the meaning:
Housing costs have been moving upward.
“Upwards of” and what it means
One of the most useful expressions involving upwards is upwards of.
“Upwards of” means more than or at least the amount that follows it.
For example:
The renovation cost upwards of $50,000.
This means the renovation cost more than $50,000.
You might also see:
The event attracted upwards of 10,000 people.
That means attendance exceeded 10,000 people.
Other examples include:
- The property is worth upwards of $2 million.
- The project took upwards of six months.
- The machine can process upwards of 500 units per hour.
- Some specialized models cost upwards of $100,000.
The expression doesn’t necessarily mean the amount is exactly known. It emphasizes that the actual figure is above the stated threshold.
“Upwards of” vs. “more than”
These expressions often communicate the same basic idea.
| Expression | Meaning | Example |
| upwards of $10,000 | More than $10,000 | The repairs cost upwards of $10,000. |
| more than $10,000 | Above $10,000 | The repairs cost more than $10,000. |
| over $10,000 | Above $10,000 | The repairs cost over $10,000. |
Upwards of can sound slightly more descriptive or emphatic, while more than is often the clearest choice in plain writing.
Upward or Upwards in American vs. British English
Both upward and upwards are standard English forms, but American English generally favors “upward,” while British English uses “upwards” more frequently as an adverb. The difference is primarily one of regional preference and style rather than correctness.
This distinction matters if you’re writing for a specific audience.
If your article, website, business, or publication targets American readers, upward is often the cleaner default when the word functions as an adverb.
For British readers, upwards may sound more natural in the same position.
Which form is more common in American English?
American English frequently uses upward as both an adjective and an adverb.
For example:
The plane moved upward rapidly.
She looked upward at the ceiling.
The market continued its upward movement.
This doesn’t mean Americans never use upwards. They certainly do.
Rather, upward tends to fit American usage particularly well, especially in concise or formal writing.
For business content, academic writing, technical documentation, and SEO content aimed at a US audience, upward is often the safest default when you’re choosing between the two adverbial forms.
Which form is more common in British English?
British English uses upwards quite comfortably as an adverb.
For example:
She looked upwards at the sky.
The road slopes upwards toward the village.
Prices continued to move upwards.
British writers also use upward, particularly in compound expressions such as:
- upward trend
- upward movement
- upward pressure
- upward trajectory
- upward mobility
So the difference isn’t a strict British-versus-American divide.
It’s better to think of it as a preference in adverbial usage.
Does the choice change the meaning?
Usually, no.
When upward and upwards function as adverbs describing direction, they normally communicate the same idea.
Compare:
The bird flew upward.
and:
The bird flew upwards.
Both tell us that the bird moved toward a higher position.
The main differences involve:
- grammatical function
- regional preference
- writing style
- established expressions
This is why saying that one word is always correct and the other is always wrong oversimplifies the issue.
Upward or Upwards: Examples in Real Sentences
Seeing the two forms side by side makes the distinction much easier.
Examples with “upward”
Here are examples where upward works naturally as an adjective:
The company reported an upward trend in annual revenue.
Analysts noticed upward pressure on consumer prices.
The athlete has shown impressive upward mobility within the organization.
The graph displays a sharp upward movement.
The business is following an upward trajectory.
Now consider upward as an adverb:
The rocket moved upward at a remarkable speed.
She tilted her head upward.
The smoke drifted upward through the open window.
The elevator traveled upward to the tenth floor.
The temperature began moving upward after noon.
These examples demonstrate why upward is so versatile.
Examples with “upwards”
As an adverb, upwards works naturally:
The child looked upwards at the airplane.
The balloon floated upwards until it disappeared.
The road climbs upwards through the forest.
Smoke rose upwards from the chimney.
The arrow points upwards.
It can also describe numerical increases:
Inflation continued to move upwards.
The company’s operating costs have been trending upwards.
The number of visitors is gradually moving upwards.
Upward vs. upwards in the same sentence
Consider these pairs:
| With upward | With upwards |
| The bird flew upward. | The bird flew upwards. |
| She looked upward. | She looked upwards. |
| Smoke drifted upward. | Smoke drifted upwards. |
| Prices moved upward. | Prices moved upwards. |
| The road slopes upward. | The road slopes upwards. |
In these examples, the meaning is essentially unchanged.
Now look at a different type of sentence:
The company experienced an upward trend.
Here, upward modifies the noun trend.
You cannot simply change it to:
The company experienced an upwards trend.
That’s where the grammatical distinction matters.
A practical case study: business writing
Imagine you’re writing a financial report.
You could say:
Revenue moved upward during the first quarter.
That’s an adverbial use.
You could also write:
The company recorded an upward trend in revenue.
That’s an adjectival use.
You might then write:
Revenue continued to move upwards throughout the second quarter.
That is grammatically acceptable, especially in British English.
But if the entire report follows American English conventions, you might prefer:
Revenue continued to move upward throughout the second quarter.
The important point is that consistency matters more than obsessing over a tiny difference in meaning.
Common Mistakes to Avoid
The biggest mistakes involving upward and upwards usually come from treating the two words as completely interchangeable in every grammatical position.
They’re not.
Using “upwards” before a noun
This is the mistake you’ll want to avoid most often in formal writing.
For example:
The company saw an upwards trend in sales.
A better version is:
The company saw an upward trend in sales.
Why?
Because upward is functioning as an adjective modifying trend.
The same rule applies to phrases such as:
- upward movement
- upward pressure
- upward adjustment
- upward trajectory
- upward revision
- upward shift
If the word sits directly before a noun and describes that noun, upward is usually the right choice.
Assuming “upwards” is incorrect in American English
This is the opposite mistake.
Some writers assume that because American English often prefers upward, upwards must be wrong.
That’s not true.
Consider:
The smoke drifted upwards.
There’s nothing inherently ungrammatical about that sentence.
However, an American writer may naturally prefer:
The smoke drifted upward.
So don’t confuse less preferred with incorrect.
English contains many regional preferences that don’t create a right-versus-wrong distinction.
Treating “upward” and “upwards” as completely different words
Another common misunderstanding is assuming that the two words have different meanings.
In their adverbial uses, they generally don’t.
Compare:
The plane climbed upward.
The plane climbed upwards.
Both describe movement toward a higher position.
The difference is primarily stylistic or regional.
The more important grammatical distinction is that upward can also be an adjective.
Mixing styles unnecessarily
Suppose you’re writing a 2,000-word American English article.
You use:
The graph moves upward.
Then:
The figures move upwards.
Then:
The prices move upward.
Then:
The rates move upwards.
None of these sentences is necessarily wrong. But switching back and forth can make your writing feel less deliberate.
If you’re writing for an American audience, choosing upward as your default adverb can simplify your style.
If you’re writing specifically for a British audience, upwards may feel more natural.
The goal isn’t to eliminate variation. It’s to use variation intentionally.
Upward or Upwards: Which One Should You Use?
Use upward when it modifies a noun, such as in “upward trend” or “upward movement.” When it functions as an adverb, both upward and upwards can be correct. For American English, upward is generally the safer default; in British English, upwards is especially common.
Here’s the practical decision framework.
Use “upward” when it comes before a noun
This is the easiest rule.
Use:
- upward trend
- upward movement
- upward pressure
- upward trajectory
- upward adjustment
- upward shift
- upward mobility
Don’t normally use upwards in these constructions.
Think of upward as describing the noun.
an upward trend
The trend is upward.
an upward movement
The movement is upward.
an upward trajectory
The trajectory is upward.
Use “upward” or “upwards” when it acts as an adverb
When the word describes an action, both forms can often work.
For example:
Look upward.
Look upwards.
Or:
The balloon moved upward.
The balloon moved upwards.
The basic meaning remains the same.
This is where regional style becomes more relevant.
American English → upward is often the safer default
If your audience is primarily in the United States, upward is a strong default.
Use it naturally in sentences such as:
Prices are moving upward.
The plane climbed upward.
She looked upward.
The graph trends upward.
This doesn’t mean upwards is unacceptable. It simply reflects a common American preference.
British English → upwards is common
For British English, upwards is often a natural choice in adverbial constructions.
For example:
The road continues upwards.
She looked upwards.
Prices are moving upwards.
Again, upward remains perfectly familiar in many British contexts, particularly in compound phrases.
Quick decision rule
If you need a fast answer, use this checklist:
| Situation | Best choice |
| Before a noun | upward |
| Describing movement | upward/upwards |
| American English adverb | upward often preferred |
| British English adverb | upwards often preferred |
| “More than” a stated amount | upwards of |
| “An ___ trend” | upward trend |
| “Move ___” | move upward/upwards |
| “Look ___” | look upward/upwards |
The safest all-purpose choice for an American English audience is therefore upward.
Upward vs. Upwards: Frequently Asked Questions
Is “upward” or “upwards” correct?
Both upward and upwards are correct English words. Upward can function as an adjective and an adverb, while upwards functions as an adverb. When describing movement, either can often work. Before a noun, use upward, as in “an upward trend.”
Is “upwards” more British than American?
Yes, upwards is generally more common in British English, particularly when it functions as an adverb. American English often favors upward in the same position. However, upwards is still understandable and grammatically valid in American English.
Can “upward” be used as an adverb?
Yes. Upward can function as an adverb when it describes movement or direction toward a higher position. For example, “The bird flew upward” and “She looked upward” are both standard constructions.
Can I say “an upwards trend”?
The preferred form is “an upward trend.” Here, upward acts as an adjective modifying the noun trend. Since upwards functions as an adverb, it isn’t normally used in this adjectival position.
What does “upwards of” mean?
“Upwards of” means more than or at least a particular amount. For example, “The building cost upwards of $5 million” means the building cost more than $5 million. The expression is commonly used with prices, quantities, time periods, and estimates.
Is “look upward” or “look upwards” better?
Both are correct. “Look upward” is especially natural in American English, while “look upwards” is common in British English. Neither version changes the basic meaning: both describe directing your gaze toward a higher position.
Final Verdict: Upward or Upwards?
So, upward or upwards—which should you use?
The answer becomes straightforward once you separate grammar from regional preference.
Upward has two major jobs. It can act as an adjective:
an upward trend
And it can act as an adverb:
The balloon moved upward.
Upwards, on the other hand, functions as an adverb:
The balloon moved upwards.
When upward and upwards describe movement, direction, or an increase, they generally communicate the same idea. The choice often comes down to regional style.
For American English, upward is usually the cleaner default.
For British English, upwards is particularly common in adverbial use.
There’s one rule worth remembering above all others:
Before a noun, use “upward.” As an adverb, “upward” and “upwards” can usually both work.
Once you understand that distinction, phrases such as upward trend, upward mobility, move upward, move upwards, and upwards of $10,000 become much easier to handle.
If you’re writing for a US audience, choosing upward as your general default will usually keep your writing concise, natural, and consistent. When you encounter upwards, don’t automatically mark it as wrong. Check its grammatical role and the variety of English being used first.
