Master confusing words with ease
Upward vs. Upwards
Upward
/ˈʌpwəd/Examples:
The stock prices have been on an upward trend recently.An upward breeze lifted the leaves into the sky.They made an upward climb to reach the peak.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Upwards
/ˈʌpwədz/Examples:
'Lighter than air,' said Bernard, pointing upwards.'Humbly and submissively,' returned the tragedian, scowling upwards.You have known him from a boy upwards.
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
Ways to tell them apart:
- Upward and upwards are both used to describe direction, but upwards is more common in British English while upward is often preferred in American English.
- Remember that upward can be thought of as more formal or technical, while upwards might feel more conversational or informal.
- Both words function as adverbs and adjectives, but context and regional preferences largely guide usage differences.
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