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.

But there’s basically no upward mobility unless someone above me leaves.

From MarketWatch • Apr. 24, 2026

To hazard a generalization, the archetypal American novel in the 20th century was a story of upward mobility, whereas the novel in Europe was one of decline.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 8, 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

Beyond the devastating personal impacts of workplace harassment, it can also cause lasting economic harm to employees by stunting their life-time earnings, undermining their upward mobility and even prompting them to change careers entirely.

From Salon • Jan. 23, 2026

Which brings me to the second part of our upward mobility.

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides