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Meaning & use

upstream

adverb, adjective·Academic

Last updated

UK/ˌʌpˈstriːm/
US/ˌʌpˈstriːm/

Meanings

  1. adverb

    In the direction against the current of a river; toward the source of a river.

    Grammar: Used without an object, often after a verb of movement: swim upstream, go upstream.

    Patterns

    • swim upstream
    • go upstream
    • move upstream

    The salmon swim upstream to lay their eggs.

    We paddled upstream for about an hour before we found a good camping spot.

    The village is a few miles upstream from the bridge.

  2. adjectivebefore a nounbusinesstechnical

    Relating to the early stages of a process or supply chain, especially finding and extracting oil or gas.

    Grammar: Comes before a noun: upstream operations, upstream suppliers. It is not usually used after a linking verb.

    Patterns

    • upstream operations
    • upstream activities
    • upstream supplier

    The company is selling some of its upstream assets to reduce debt.

    Upstream costs have risen sharply this year.

    They are an upstream supplier of raw materials to several carmakers.

  3. adverbbusinesstechnical

    At an earlier point in a process or supply chain, closer to the source of materials or information.

    Grammar: Used without an object, often with verbs like move, go, or look: move upstream in the chain.

    Patterns

    • move upstream
    • go upstream
    • look upstream

    To fix the problem, we need to look upstream in the production process.

    Many firms are moving upstream into more profitable parts of the business.

    The delays start upstream, with the suppliers of the raw materials.

Common combinations

upstream oil and gas
She has spent her career in upstream oil and gas.
upstream operations
Upstream operations include exploration and drilling.
swim upstream
The fish swim upstream every spring.
upstream from
The factory is located upstream from the town.
move upstream
The company decided to move upstream into higher-value products.

Synonyms and how they differ

against the current
A general phrase for moving opposite to the flow of water; it does not have the business meaning of 'upstream'.
earlier
Used for steps in a process that happen before others; it is more general and does not suggest a supply chain.

Opposites

downstream

Word family

downstream adverb
In the direction of the current; also used for later stages in a supply chain.

Commonly confused: upstream or downstream?

upstream vs downstream

Downstream means with the flow of a river or later in a supply chain, while upstream means against the flow or earlier in the chain.

Practice

In the oil industry, which part of the business does 'upstream' refer to?

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