Definitions

upward mobility

NOUN

climbing in status

Synonyms

WEAK

advancement climbing the corporate ladder social climbing social mobility status seeking vertical mobility

Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Having a roof over your head is a fundamental human need and is a foundation for financial stability and upward mobility.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 26, 2026

I am very good at what I do, but there is limited upward mobility for this position.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 9, 2026

Beyond the devastating personal impacts of workplace harassment, it can also cause lasting economic harm to employees by stunting their life-time earnings, undermining their upward mobility and even prompting them to change careers entirely.

From Salon • Jan. 23, 2026

Instead, they have produced a quintessentially American phenomenon: a roaring engine of upward mobility.

From The Wall Street Journal • Dec. 24, 2025

I had brought my family’s upward mobility out onto the road.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides