uptick

noun

up·​tick ˈəp-ˌtik 

plural upticks

1

: an increase, rise, or upward trend

For the professional middle class in particular, an uptick in innovation and a return to faster economic growth would solve many problems, and likely reignite income growth.

—Don Peck

Any near-term uptick in jobs will probably be small, because there's still plenty to be milked from existing workers.

—Rana Foroohar

2

finance : a stock market transaction at a price above the last previous transaction in the same security

Hong Kong has long required that stocks can only be sold short on upticks, meaning when the last trade of a specific stock in the market was higher than the preceding trade of that stock.

—Martin Fackler and Keith Bradsher

compare downtick sense 2

Synonyms

• accretion
• accrual
• addendum
• addition
• augmentation
• boost
• expansion
• gain
• increase
• increment
• more
• plus
• proliferation
• raise
• rise
• step-up
• supplement

Examples of uptick in a Sentence

an uptick in sales over the last fiscal year

Recent Examples on the Web

Hoyt noted that while voucher programs initially served low-income and high-needs students, there has been an uptick nationally toward universal programs, meaning anyone regardless of income can access the assistance. —Krista Johnson, The Courier-Journal, 23 Oct. 2024

Because there will be an uptick in birds and water birds, there are numerous spots that specifically see a large increase in birds, according to Game and Fish. —Zach Bradshaw, The Arizona Republic, 23 Oct. 2024

Relations between the two have deteriorated in recent years with an uptick in fiery rhetoric on both sides of the demilitarized zone. —Yoonjung Seo, CNN, 23 Oct. 2024

Meanwhile, charter schools have seen an uptick in students. —Axios Salt Lake City, Axios, 21 Oct. 2024

Word History

Etymology

up entry 2 + tick entry 1

First Known Use

1952, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Kids Definition

uptick

noun

up·​tick

ˈəp-ˌtik

: an increase, rise, or upward trend

an uptick in cost