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.

The rate of upward mobility in 19th-century Europe and China was under 10%.

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

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

The settlement movement’s contribution to successful assimilation and upward mobility merits the attention this book pays.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 24, 2026

We are introduced to “clever women,” well-educated daughters and wives with no upward mobility and no chance at a public life, who turned their “restless intelligence” to medicine.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 6, 2026

My world was filled with hopeful, hardworking people who were obsessed with their own upward mobility.

From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama