Upward is a six letter word with the first vowel being 'u', pronounced as /ʌp/ in IPA phonetic transcription. The 'w' in the middle of word is pronounced as /w/ sound, which is silent when pronounced. Finally, the last letters 'ard' are pronounced as /ərd/. Thus, upward is pronounced as /ʌpwərd/. This word is used to describe something that goes or faces towards the sky, like an upward trend in the stock market or an upward trajectory of a rocket.
Upward, as an adjective, refers to a direction or movement that is going or pointing towards a higher position, elevation, or level. It implies a vertical motion that is opposite to downward or descending. For example, to climb a staircase, one must move upward step by step. It signifies an inclination or progress towards the top or a higher place. In a more abstract sense, upward can also represent growth, progress, or improvement in various aspects.
When used as an adverb, upward means moving, going, or facing upwards. It describes an action or activity that is directed towards an upward trajectory. For instance, a kite soaring in the sky is moving upward. It is also employed to indicate an increase, rise, or enhancement in quantity, value, or intensity. For example, there may be an upward trend in a stock market or an upward spike in temperature.
In summary, upward signifies a direction or movement towards a higher position or level, either in a literal or metaphorical sense. It can describe vertical motion or progress and improvement in various aspects of life. Whether used as an adjective or adverb, upward conveys the idea of going or pointing higher, both physically and figuratively.
• Directed to a higher place.
• Toward a higher place; toward the source.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "upward" is derived from the Old English word "upweard", which can be broken down into "up", meaning "towards a higher position or level", and "weard", meaning "in the direction of" or "towards". Over time, the spelling evolved, and "upward" became the modern term used to describe movement or direction towards a higher point or level.