UHP-wurd-lee
/ˈʌpwɚdli/
upwardly is pronounced UHP-wurd-lee (/ˈʌpwɚdli/). Upwardly is an adverb meaning in an upward direction, toward a higher place or level. It implies movement or orientation toward the sky or a higher position, often with a sense of progress or ascent, and is used in formal or literary contexts as well as technical descriptions.
Upwardly is an adverb meaning in an upward direction, toward a higher place or level. It implies movement or orientation toward the sky or a higher position, often with a sense of progress or ascent, and is used in formal or literary contexts as well as technical descriptions.
- You often flatten the /ɜː/ or /ɚ/ in the second syllable; rehearse /wɜːd/ or /wɚd/ distinctly before -ly. - You may fuse /d/ and /l/ into a /dl/ cluster; snap the /d/ then release into /l/ clearly. - You might misplace stress, treating it as /ˈup.wərd.li/ with weak initial emphasis; keep strong initial syllable. Practice by isolating syllables and then blending.
"The flowers grew upwardly along the trellis, reaching toward the sun."
"Investors await the market trend to move upwardly in the coming quarters."
"The laser beam bent slightly upwardly as it passed through the prism."
Pronounce as /ˈʌp.wɜːd.li/ in UK; /ˈəp.wɚd.li/ in US; /ˈʌpˌwɜːd.li/ in Australian. The main stress is on the first syllable UP, with a light secondary emphasis on the second syllable or a quick -ward- cluster. Start with a short, rounded /ʌ/ or schwa depending on accent, then a quick /p/ release, followed by /wɜː/ or /wɚ/ and a final /d.li/. Ensure the -ly is a light, unstressed ending. Audio reference: imagine saying “up-ward-ly” smoothly, with the final -ly clipped.
Common errors: (1) Misplacing stress, saying /ˈup.wərd.li/ with weak initial vowel; keep stress on UP. (2) Slurring the /d/ into the /l/ in -dly, producing a muddled /dli/; clearly articulate /d/ before the light /l/. (3) Reducing the /ɜː/ or /ɚ/ vowel in the second syllable too much, making /wər/ or /wɚ/ unclear; aim for a distinct /wɜː/ or /wɚ/ before /d/. Correct by slow practice with isolated syllables.” ,
US: /ˈəp.wɚd.li/ or /ˈʌp.wɚd.li/ with a rhotacized /ɚ/ in the second syllable. UK: /ˈʌp.wɜːd.li/ with a longer /ɜː/ and non-rhoticity keeping /r/ silent in non-rhotic positions. AU: /ˈʌpˌwɜːd.li/ with a slightly closer /ɜː/ and a more pronounced vowel shift in the second syllable; the /r/ is typically non-rhotic. Focus on the -ward- vowel and the final -ly lightness. ”,
The difficulty lies in the sequence /ˈʌp/ + /wɜː/ (or /wɚ/) + /d.li/, where the mid-central vowel in the second syllable can be reduced differently across accents, and the /d/ and /l/ form a challenging /dli/ cluster. Additionally, the relatively light final -ly can reduce, making it feel one smooth word. Practicing slow, then adding speed helps stabilize the transitions and keeps the light final suffix distinct.
No, upwardly is pronounced with all letters contributing to the sound: up-ward-ly, with the final -ly pronounced as a light /li/. The letters correspond to phonemes: /ʌ/ or /ə/, /p/, /w/, /ɜː/ or /ɚ/, /d/, /l/, /i/. No silent letters occur; the -ward- spelling reflects historical morphology, but every letter is phonetically active in typical pronunciation.
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US: rhotic /r/ is reduced; focus on /ɚ/ in the second syllable and a clear final /li/.UK: non-rhotic; emphasize /ɜː/ and a crisp /d/ before /l/.AU: similar to US but with broader vowel quality and a slightly clipped final -ly. Use IPA references to tune vowel length and rhotic presence where appropriate.
Upwardly originates from the combination of the preposition up with the adjective upward, forming an adverbial form that emphasizes direction. The element up- is a Germanic prefix common in English to indicate ascent or elevation, dating back to Old English up- with cognates in other Germanic languages. The base word upward derives from Old English upweard (upwards), where -ward denotes direction. The adverbial suffix -ly emerged in Middle English (from Old English -līce/ -līce as in manner) to create adverbs from adjectives, yielding upwardly. The first attested uses occur in technical, descriptive, and literary contexts as writers sought precise directional cues, often in scientific or rhetorical prose. Over time, upwardly has remained relatively formal and somewhat literary, used to stress deliberate ascent or elevation rather than casual movement. It is less common in everyday spoken English, but remains appropriate in scholarly writing, formal narration, and detailed descriptions of movement or growth toward a higher position. Its frequency has fluctuated with shifts in prose style, but the core meaning — toward a higher position — has persisted since its early attestations. In contemporary usage, upwardly can function as an adverb modifying verbs of motion or orientation, or as a stylistic intensifier when describing growth or progress.
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💡 These words have similar meanings to "upwardly" and can often be used interchangeably.
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Words that rhyme with "upwardly"
-dly sounds
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