upwards

upwards — adverb

1. moving or pointing to a spot that is above where you are now; also describing an

1.副詞C1
釋義

moving or pointing to a spot that is above where you are now; also describing an amount, price, or quality that increases to a larger figure.

例句

The hot air balloon rose upwards until it was just a dot in the clouds.

physical upward movement

Sumin glanced upwards and noticed a crack running across the ceiling.

direction of gaze

同義詞
  • upward

    identical meaning; more common in American English and also functions as an adjective

  • up

    shorter and more casual; works as both adverb and preposition

反義詞
  • downwards

    opposite direction — toward a lower place, level, or value

  • down

    informal counterpart to up

文法句型

upwards + adverb

upwards + prepositional phrase

用法筆記

In British English, upwards is the more common form; in American English, upward is also used frequently. Use upward (not upwards) as an adjective before a noun, e.g., an upward trend.

常見錯誤

❌There was an upwards movement in prices.
✅There was an upward movement in prices.
💡Use upward (adjective form) before a noun; upwards is an adverb.
❌She looked upwards the mountain.
✅She looked upwards towards the mountain.
💡Upwards describes direction; use a preposition like towards or at to introduce the destination.

2. used before or after a number or amount to indicate that the real figure is at l

2.副詞B2
釋義

used before or after a number or amount to indicate that the real figure is at least that high, and often higher.

例句

Children aged twelve upwards can enter the science competition.

[age] + upwards: minimum age

The roof repairs will cost upwards of three thousand pounds.

upwards of [amount]: at least

同義詞
  • upward of

    American English equivalent of upwards of

  • over

    simpler and more common in everyday speech

  • more than

    direct and unambiguous

反義詞
  • under

    less than a stated amount

  • below

    used in age or level contexts

文法句型

upwards of [number]

[number] and upwards

用法筆記

When used before a figure, the structure is typically upwards of + amount (e.g., upwards of fifty people). When placed after, the pattern is [figure] and upwards (e.g., £50 and upwards). Not common in American English, where upward of is preferred.

常見錯誤

❌There weren't upwards of fifty guests.
✅There were upwards of fifty guests.
💡Upwards of is used in positive statements about minimum quantity, not in negations.
❌The project cost upwards 5 million.
✅The project cost upwards of 5 million.
💡The preposition of is required before the figure.

3. continuing forward in time from a particular age, decade, or date that has been

3.副詞C1
釋義

continuing forward in time from a particular age, decade, or date that has been mentioned.

例句

From her teenage years upwards, Élise dreamed of becoming a marine biologist.

from [age] upwards: starting point in life

From her mid-twenties upwards, Nur found she needed reading glasses for small print.

from [age] upwards: life stage starting point

同義詞
  • onwards

    the more frequent choice for temporal continuation; interchangeable in British English

  • forward

    preferred in American English for temporal contexts

反義詞
  • backwards

    temporal opposite — from a point going earlier in time

文法句型

from [time/age] upwards

用法筆記

Always preceded by from + a time expression. Largely interchangeable with onwards in British English (from the 1990s onwards / upwards). Less common in American English, where forward or on are preferred.

常見錯誤

❌I studied French 2010 upwards.
✅I studied French from 2010 upwards.
💡The preposition from must always precede the time expression.