Upward vs Upwards

Quick Answer

The fastest way to know which spelling to use.

The difference between upward and upwards comes down entirely to geography.

If you are writing for an audience in the United States, the preferred spelling is upward (without an 's'). If you are writing for an audience in the United Kingdom, Australia, or New Zealand, the preferred spelling is upwards (with an 's') when used as an adverb.

Both words refer to the exact same thing: a movement toward a higher position. Neither spelling is grammatically incorrect, but using the wrong one for your target region can look out of place.

Upward vs Upwards at a Glance

A side-by-side breakdown of the key differences.

Feature	Airplane (US)	Aeroplane (UK)
Standard Region	United States	United Kingdom
Spelling	U-P-W-A-R-D	U-P-W-A-R-D-S
Syllable Count	2 (UP-ward)	2 (UP-wards)
Part of Speech	Adjective & Adverb	Adverb (Upward is the adjective)
Meaning	Moving to a higher position	Moving to a higher position

American English: Upward

How the word is used in the United States.

In the United States, "upward" is the universally accepted spelling. It is used as both an adjective (an upward trend) and an adverb (moving upward). American style guides favor dropping the 's' for a streamlined, phonetic approach.

Grammatical Standard

American style guides like the Chicago Manual of Style prefer 'upward' for both adjective and adverb use, avoiding the 's' entirely.

Media and Publishing

Major publications like The New York Times and The Wall Street Journal use the 'upward' spelling exclusively.

British English: Upwards

How the word is used in the United Kingdom.

In the United Kingdom, "upwards" is the traditional and standard spelling for the adverb. While "upward" is still used as an adjective (e.g., an upward trend), Britons naturally add the 's' when describing motion or direction.

Adverbial Standard

British English uses 'upwards' for direction, as in 'the path led upwards,' reserving 'upward' strictly for modifying nouns.

Modern Usage

Though 'up' is common in casual speech, formal British writing relies on 'upwards' for adverbs rather than the American simplification.

What Do Both Words Mean?

The definition remains exactly the same.

Despite the spelling difference, both "upward" and "upwards" mean exactly the same thing. They refer to movement from a lower to a higher position or level.

Core Definition

Moving or pointing toward a higher place.

Metaphorical Use

Both words are also used to describe an increase in quality, price, or status (e.g., an upward trend in the market).

American English Usage

How Americans naturally use the word today.

In the US, "upward" is used in almost every context, from casual conversation to financial reports. It serves a dual purpose, modifying both nouns and verbs seamlessly.

Casual Conversation

"He gave a quick upward pull on the rope."

Financial Writing

"The stock market showed an upward trend all week."

Sports Context

"The skier moved upward to reach the summit."

Aviation Industry

"The pilot initiated an upward climb to avoid the storm."

British English Usage

How Britons naturally use the word today.

In the UK, "upwards" holds its ground as the primary adverb, while "upward" serves as the adjective. This subtle grammatical split is standard in British English.

Literature and Media

"The temperature gradually slid upwards during the afternoon."

Everyday Conversation

"We walked upwards towards the peak of the hill."

Hobbyist Contexts

"The cyclist pedalled upwards into the shaded woods."

News and Journalism

"The pressure on the Prime Minister moved upwards."

Which Spelling Should You Use?

Deciding based on your audience.

The decision is entirely context-driven. If you are writing an email to an American colleague, use "upward." If you are writing a postcard from London to your friends back in Britain, use "upwards."

Choose "Upward" if:

You are writing for a US-based publisher, studying at an American school, or creating content primarily for an American audience.

Choose "Upwards" if:

You are submitting to a UK journal, writing for a British audience, or following Commonwealth English standards for adverbs.

Formal and Professional Writing

What to do in business and academic contexts.

In highly formal writing, it is best to adhere strictly to the regional standard. Both forms are correct, but consistency in grammar and spelling is paramount in professional contexts.

Business Contracts

International corporate documents should define their style guide, usually selecting either US or UK English for adverbial forms.

Academic Research

Scientific papers will typically use 'upward' in US journals and 'upwards' in UK journals, especially when describing physical motion or data trends.

Pronunciation

The spelling change does not affect how the word is spoken.

The spelling difference doesn't change the spoken word; the 's' at the end is pronounced softly without adding a syllable.

Word	IPA	Syllables
Airplane (US)	/ˈʌpwərd/	2 (UP-ward)
Aeroplane (UK)	/ˈʌpwədz/	2 (UP-wards)

Because the British version simply adds an 's', the pronunciation remains structurally identical, ending with a voiced 'z' sound.

Spelling Difference

A visual breakdown of the letters.

The core difference is the presence of the letter "s" at the end of the word.

Upward

Upwards

The American version stops at "upward," serving as both adjective and adverb. The British version adds the "s" to specifically mark it as an adverb.

Why Are the Spellings Different?

The history behind the transatlantic split.

1. Old English Roots

The word originates from the Old English 'upweard', combining 'up' with '-weard' (meaning 'directed toward').

2. The Adverbial 'S'

In Middle and Early Modern English, adding an 's' to directional words (like towards, afterwards) was a common way to form adverbs. British English largely retained this 's'.

3. Noah Webster's Reform

In the early 1800s, Noah Webster reformed American spelling. He preferred dropping the adverbial 's' where the meaning was already clear, leading to the American preference for 'upward' as both adjective and adverb.

Synonyms, Antonyms & Rhyming Words

Words related to, opposite of, and sounding like upward/upwards.

Synonyms (Similar Meaning)

Antonyms (Opposite Meaning)

Rhyming Words (Sound Matches)

Learn More Rhyming Words

Example Sentences

See how both words function in original sentences.

Here are 30 original sentences using the American spelling, "upward."

The balloon drifted upward into the clouds.
He looked upward at the tall building.
The stock market showed an upward trend.
She gave a quick upward pull on the rope.
The path led upward toward the peak.
The rocket blasted upward into space.
He felt an upward pressure on his shoulders.
The company showed an upward trajectory.
The cat leaped upward to catch the toy.
The economy is trending upward this quarter.
The smoke rose upward from the chimney.
The mountain climber looked upward for a handhold.
The pilot pulled the nose of the plane upward.
The gymnast flipped upward into the air.
The temperature showed a sudden upward shift.
The arrow pointed upward on the sign.
The elevator moved upward smoothly.
The hawk soared upward on the thermal.
The country is showing upward mobility.
The pressure pushed the lid upward.
The plant grew upward toward the sunlight.
The mountain path snaked upward.
The baseball flew upward into the sky.
The water pressure forced the liquid upward.
The child gazed upward at the stars.
The stock had an upward trajectory all week.
The athlete jumped upward to catch the ball.
The sun moved upward in the morning sky.
The climber hoisted himself upward.
The manager noticed an upward shift in sales.

Here are 30 original sentences using the British spelling, "upwards."

The balloon drifted upwards into the clouds.
He looked upwards at the tall building.
The stock market showed an upward trend.
She gave a quick upward pull on the rope.
The path led upwards towards the peak.
The rocket blasted upwards into space.
He felt an upward pressure on his shoulders.
The company showed an upward trajectory.
The cat leaped upwards to catch the toy.
The economy is trending upwards this quarter.
The smoke rose upwards from the chimney.
The mountain climber looked upwards for a handhold.
The pilot pulled the nose of the plane upwards.
The gymnast flipped upwards into the air.
The temperature showed a sudden upward shift.
The arrow pointed upwards on the sign.
The lift moved upwards smoothly.
The hawk soared upwards on the thermal.
The country is showing upward mobility.
The pressure pushed the lid upwards.
The plant grew upwards towards the sunlight.
The mountain path snaked upwards.
The cricket ball flew upwards into the sky.
The water pressure forced the liquid upwards.
The child gazed upwards at the stars.
The stock had an upward trajectory all week.
The athlete jumped upwards to catch the ball.
The sun moved upwards in the morning sky.
The climber hoisted himself upwards.
The manager noticed an upward shift in sales.

Upward in US English

Specific contexts, industry standards, and cultural data for the American spelling.

In the United States, "upward" is the universally preferred spelling. It functions as both an adjective and an adverb. American style guides, including the Associated Press Stylebook, favor dropping the 's' to create a more streamlined word.

Financial & Economic

The Wall Street Journal and Bloomberg use 'upward' to describe positive trends in the stock market, GDP, and corporate earnings.

Aviation & Space

NASA and the US aerospace industry use 'upward' to describe rocket launches, trajectories, and atmospheric climbing.

Sports & Motion

American sports journalists use 'upward' to describe the physical movement of athletes, such as a basketball player jumping 'upward' for a rebound.

Common American Phrases

• Upward trend: A positive data shift.
• Upward mobility: Moving to a higher social class.
• Upward trajectory: An upward path.
• Upward force: Physics term.

Upwards in UK English

Specific contexts, industry standards, and cultural data for the British spelling.

In the UK, "upwards" is the traditional spelling for the adverb, while "upward" is used as an adjective. This grammatical split is standard in British English and is maintained in style guides.

Financial & Economic

The Financial Times and BBC Business use 'upwards' when describing market movement, such as 'prices moved upwards' or 'inflation is edging upwards'.

Aviation & Space

The UK Space Agency and British aerospace engineering use 'upwards' to describe the physical ascent of aircraft and rockets.

Sports & Motion

British sports broadcasters use 'upwards' to describe the motion of athletes, balls, and physical jumps in events like the high jump.

Common British Phrases

• Moving upwards: Physical ascent.
• Edging upwards: Slow economic increase.
• Glance upwards: Looking up.
• Stretched upwards: Reaching higher.

Related Directional Vocabulary

Other words that differ in spatial descriptions.

US English	UK English	Meaning
Toward	Towards	In the direction of.
Downward	Downwards	Moving to a lower position.
Forward	Forwards	Moving ahead.
Backward	Backwards	Moving in reverse.

Other US–UK Directional Differences

More words that change when you cross the pond.

Toward vs. Towards

Americans prefer 'toward' while Britons prefer 'towards'.

Downward vs. Downwards

Americans use 'downward' for both roles, while Britons use 'downwards' as an adverb.

Forward vs. Forwards

The US uses 'forward', while the UK often uses 'forwards' for adverbs.

Backward vs. Backwards

Americans prefer 'backward', while Britons use 'backwards' for motion.

Common Mistakes

Frequent errors writers make with these spellings.

Mixing spellings within the same document.

✓ Pick one regional standard and stick to it.

Why: Writing 'The upward trend moved upwards' looks inconsistent in American English, while 'The upwards trend moved upward' is incorrect in British English.

Using 'upwards' as an adjective in British English.

✓ Use 'upward' for adjectives in the UK.

Why: In the UK, 'an upwards trend' is a grammatical error; it should be 'an upward trend'.

Using 'upward' as an adverb in UK formal writing.

✓ Use 'upwards' for adverbs in the UK.

Why: British style guides expect the 's' for adverbs of direction, so writing 'moving upward' will look unpolished to a British editor.

Forgetting the adjective/adverb distinction.

✓ Remember that US English uses 'upward' for both.

Why: American English simplifies the grammar by using one form for all functions, which can confuse ESL learners studying British English.

Adding an extra syllable when pronouncing 'upwards'.

✓ Pronounce it with two syllables.

Why: The 's' does not add a syllable; it is pronounced as a voiced 'z' at the end of the word.

Assuming 'upwards' is a typo.

✓ Recognize it as the current, active British spelling.

Why: Some Americans assume it's incorrect, but it is entirely modern and standard in the UK today.

Confusing 'upward' with 'upwind'.

✓ Keep them distinct.

Why: 'Upward' refers to a higher position, while 'upwind' refers to moving against the wind.

Using 'upward' for a British children's book.

✓ Use 'upwards' for UK adverbs.

Why: British publishers strictly enforce regional spelling and grammar standards, especially in educational materials for kids.

Forgetting that Canada usually aligns with the US.

✓ Use 'upward' for Canadian audiences.

Why: Despite being in the Commonwealth, Canadian English heavily favors American spellings for directional adverbs.

Confusing the direction with the noun 'up'.

✓ Keep 'upward/upwards' separate from 'up' (the direction).

Why: 'Upward' is a directional modifier; 'up' is a noun or preposition. They serve different grammatical functions.

Writing for an International Audience

How to handle the split when writing globally.

If you are writing a blog, book, or manual for a global audience, you must pick a primary English standard. Most international organizations choose either US or UK English as their default and stick to it.

Pro Tip: Because American media dominates globally, many ESL learners are more familiar with "upward." However, if your organization is based in Europe or the Commonwealth, "upwards" is the expected standard for adverbs.

Memory Tip

An easy way to remember which spelling belongs to which country.

If you struggle to remember the difference, use this simple association trick:

America = Upward

United Kingdom = Upwards

Notice the extra 's' in 'Upwards'. The United Kingdom often prefers an extra 's' on their directional adverbs (towards, backwards, upwards), while America drops the 's'. Think of the extra 's' as representing 'Standard British Spelling'.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Quick answers to common questions.

Are 'upward' and 'upwards' pronounced the same way?

They are pronounced almost identically, except the British version adds a soft 'z' sound at the end. 'Upward' is two syllables (UP-ward), and 'upwards' is two syllables (UP-wards).

Why does America use 'upward' instead of 'upwards'?

In the early 19th century, Noah Webster sought to simplify American spelling. Dropping the adverbial 's' in words like 'upward', 'toward', and 'backward' was part of this movement to streamline the language.

Is 'upwards' ever used in the United States?

It is very rare in modern American English. 'Upward' is the undisputed standard for both adjectives and adverbs in the US today.

What about Canada and Australia? Which spelling do they use?

Canada generally follows the American spelling ('upward'). Australia and New Zealand follow British English and use 'upwards' for adverbs.

Is 'up' an acceptable abbreviation for both words?

While 'up' conveys the same direction, it is a separate word rather than a direct abbreviation. Both 'upward' and 'upwards' mean 'toward a higher position.'

Which spelling is older, 'upward' or 'upwards'?

'Upward' is the older spelling, originating from Old English 'upweard'. The adverbial 's' was added later in Middle English, which British English retained.

Should I use 'upward' or 'upwards' in academic writing?

You should match the spelling to the regional standard of your audience or publisher. American journals use 'upward' for both roles. UK journals use 'upward' as an adjective and 'upwards' as an adverb.

What is the suffix '-ward' derived from?

The suffix '-ward' comes from Old English '-weard', meaning 'directed toward' a specific place or direction.

Are there other words that follow this 'ward' vs 'wards' pattern?

Yes, many directional words follow this split, such as toward/towards, downward/downwards, forward/forwards, and backward/backwards.

Which word is more commonly used globally today?

Because of the dominance of American media and technology, 'upward' is recognized globally. However, 'upwards' remains the correct adverbial standard in formal British, Australian, and New Zealand English.