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

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

The route to upward mobility in the U.S. used to be to graduate from college, work a stable white-collar job and buy a home.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 6, 2026

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

From "Middlesex: A Novel" by Jeffrey Eugenides