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Added 1 October 2026

upstream

/ʌpˈstɹiːm/ adjective

Categories: Describing WordsUncommon Words

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about upstream at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. In a direction against the flow of a current or stream of fluid (typically water); upriver.
  2. Occurring earlier than something else; being an influence on something else; causing a consequence for something else.
    Input entry is upstream of input validation in the runtime process.
  3. Involving exploration and pre-production rather than refining and selling.

adverb

  1. Against the current.

verb

  1. To stream upward.
  2. To have (a software library, patch, etc.) accepted by the original developers of the related software, so that they maintain and distribute it.
    I'd be more than happy to upstream your patch.

noun

  1. Part of the river towards the upstream direction.
  2. The original developers or maintainers of software.

Related Words: upriverdownstreamheadwaterheadwatersdownwindupwindupshiftaboveuphillfront-endup-frontupwelling

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