upstream

[ uhp-streem ]
/ ˈʌpˈstrim /

adverb

toward or in the higher part of a stream; against the current.

adjective

directed upstream; situated upstream: an upstream journey; an upstream hideout.
Commerce. of or relating to the early stages in the operations of a business or industry, as exploration and production in the oil business (opposed to downstream).
against or opposite to the direction of transcription, translation, or synthesis of a DNA, RNA, or protein molecule.

Origin of upstream

First recorded in 1675–85; up- + stream

Example sentences from the Web for upstream

British Dictionary definitions for upstream

upstream
/ (ˈʌpˈstriːm) /

adverb, adjective

in or towards the higher part of a stream; against the current
(in the oil industry) of or for any of the stages prior to oil production, such as exploration or research Compare downstream (def. 2)