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.

For many young Indians, higher education is no guarantee of upward mobility.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 7, 2026

Rather than debating the merits of income redistribution, we should start by scaling such evidence-backed efforts to improve opportunities for upward mobility.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 4, 2026

Spaeny and Melton were cast as Ashley and Austin, a Gen-Z couple working at a Montecito country club, dreaming and scheming toward upward mobility, a good 18 months before filming began in early 2025.

From Los Angeles Times • May 27, 2026

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

From MarketWatch • May 6, 2026

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

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides