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upstream

adjective · verb · noun · adverb

Simple meaning

In a direction against the flow of a current or stream of fluid.

Pronunciation

Say it like this:

uhpstreem

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US device voice
IPA pronunciation (US)

ˈʌpstˈɹim

This word is pronounced essentially the same in American and British English, so one transcription covers both.

IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) is a standard way of writing speech sounds.

Word Review

Definition

Everyday modern meanings first, grouped by part of speech.

adjective

  1. In a direction against the flow of a current or stream of fluid (typically water); upriver.

  2. figurative

    Occurring earlier than something else; (also, usually, especially) being an influence on something else; causing a consequence for something else.

  3. oil industry

    Involving exploration and pre-production rather than refining and selling.

verb

  1. intransitive

    To stream upward.

noun

  1. Part of the river towards the upstream direction.

adverb

  1. Toward the source or against the current

Word at a Glance

Difficulty
B2 · Upper Intermediate
Frequency
Moderately Common
Typical Use
Varies by meaning

Word Aura™

How this word commonly comes across.

Aura for this meaning

This meaning: In a direction against the flow of a current or stream of fluid (typically water); upriver.

Used this way, upstream is a reasonably familiar word that usually carries little praise or criticism of its own. It usually sounds natural in a wide range of settings.

Emotional tone
Neutral
Formality
Neutral
Intensity
Not strongly marked
How common
Moderately common
Connotation
No strong connotation
Usage feel
Neutral and straightforward

Word Aura describes common impressions, not a measurement. Tone changes with sentence, speaker, relationship and situation.

More ways to use upstream

  • “The salmon swim upstream against the current to lay their eggs.”

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Common Patterns and Combinations

How this word naturally appears with others.

further upstreamupstream sidefar upstreamupstream endfarther upstreamimmediately upstreamupstream faceback upstream

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Related Words

Connected to the same idea, not synonyms.

More about this wordSynonyms, forms, origin

Antonyms

Sense: in a direction against the flow of a current

downstream

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Dictionary data from Wiktionary via the Free Dictionary API. Simple meanings, combinations and word intelligence are built from verified reference data, no AI is used to load this page.