Meaning & use
onward and up
Last updated
Meaning
phrasefixed phrasefigurative
used to encourage someone to keep moving forward and improving
Grammar: Used as a short encouraging statement or as a heading, not as part of a longer sentence: Onward and up!
Patterns
- onward and up
- onward and upward
We finished the first stage of the plan. Onward and up!
After the promotion, she told her friends, 'Onward and up!'
'Onward and up' was written on the banner above the stage.
Common combinations
- onward and upward
- The more common form is 'onward and upward', used to mean keep improving.
- move onward and up
- The company hopes to move onward and up in the market.
- go onward and up
- After the award, the young singer went onward and up.
Synonyms and how they differ
- onward and upward
- The usual form of this phrase; it sounds more natural to most speakers.
- keep going
- A more general encouragement to continue, without the idea of rising or improving.
Commonly confused: onward and up or onwards and upwards?
onward and up vs onwards and upwards
This is another common variant, especially in British English. It has the same meaning and is used in the same way.
Practice
Which sentence uses the phrase naturally?
Choose one answer.
The phrase is a fixed expression used by itself as an encouragement. It does not work as a verb or as part of a normal sentence like the other options.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “onward and up”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.