upstroke

/ˈʌpˌstroʊk/
noun
  1. An upward movement of a pen, brush, or other tool when writing or drawing.
    • The calligrapher made a thin upstroke with the nib.
    • The artist used a light upstroke to create the shading.
    • Practice making smooth upstrokes and downstrokes for better handwriting.
  2. An upward movement or stroke in a mechanical device, such as a piston or pump.
    • The machine's upstroke is slower than its downstroke.
    • The engine's piston completes an upstroke to compress the fuel mixture.
    • During the upstroke of the pump, water is drawn into the cylinder.
  3. A sudden increase or improvement; an upturn.
    • The team's performance showed an upstroke in the second half of the season.
    • The economy experienced an upstroke after the new policies were implemented.
    • There was an upstroke in sales during the holiday season.
Antonyms