Upstream

Part of speech: adverb, adjective

Pronunciation: /ʌpˈstɹiːm/

Definitions

1. Moving or situated toward the source of a river or stream, or occurring earlier in a sequence or process
2. In the direction of a water source or origin, as well as being prior in a timeline or progression
3. Positioned towards where a river begins or towards an earlier stage in a series or development

Etymology: "Upstream" is a plain compound: "up" joined to "stream," so its literal sense is simply "up the stream," the direction a current comes from. The "stream" half has a long pedigree. It descends from a Proto-Germanic "straumaz," which in turn traces back to a Proto-Indo-European root connected with flowing, and it passed through Old English "strēam" and Middle English "strem" before reaching its modern form. The word's modern figurative uses grew out of that literal sense. People began applying "upstream" to any earlier point in a sequence, the way a river's source lies before its mouth, so a process, a supply chain, or a line of development can all have an upstream end. The adjective and adverb forms share that same spatial logic, moving from the water's course to the order of events.

Synonyms: against the current, backward, upwards, higher, toward source

Antonyms: downstream, downward, lower, away, toward mouth