upward mobility

noun

: the capacity or facility for rising to a higher social or economic position
upwardly mobile adjective

Examples of upward mobility in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
For example, in Intergenerational Mobility of Immigrants in the US over Two Centuries, the researchers found that children of immigrants often experience upward mobility, especially when starting near the bottom of the income distribution. — True Tamplin, Forbes.com, 29 Aug. 2026 Maryland The Terrapins have a chance at upward mobility based on their schedule. — Scott Dochterman, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Bernstein also warned that artificial intelligence could eventually threaten India’s IT services and business process outsourcing sectors, another traditional source of upward mobility. — Priyanka Salve,raksha Murali, CNBC, 2 Aug. 2026 However, the upward mobility trend is largely across the board. — Evie Carrick, Travel + Leisure, 31 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for upward mobility

Word History

First Known Use

1949, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of upward mobility was in 1949

Rhymes for upward mobility

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Browse Nearby Words

upward
upward mobility
upwards of
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Cite this Entry

“Upward mobility.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upward%20mobility. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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More from Merriam-Webster on upward mobility

Britannica.com: Encyclopedia article about upward mobility

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