upsell

American  

[uhp-sel] / ˈʌpˌsɛl /

verb (used with or without object)

upsold, upselling

1. to try to persuade (a customer) to buy more, or to buy something more expensive.

   I don’t like aggressive salesmen trying to upsell me or tack on expensive warranties.

2. to sell (something) in this way.

   Want to upsell merchandise or VIP experiences on your website? No problem.

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noun

1. an act or instance of making such an attempt (often used attributively).

   Unlike other software companies, we don't have complex pricing tiers or upsells.

   If one of your other products would solve a customer's problem, it's a great opportunity to send an upsell email.

Etymology

Origin of upsell

First recorded in 1975–80; up- ( def. ) + sell ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

Humans’ accuracy rate is much lower, when factoring in guest greetings, delivering the right upsell and entering the correct order, the company said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 16, 2026

“AI is deeply embedded in the upsell momentum for cybersecurity vendors” he said.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 7, 2026

“It is also the volume that allows Microsoft to upsell data fabric and other infrastructure software, thus getting growth leverage and lifting AI margins overall.”

From Barron's • Dec. 4, 2025

Salespeople would always tell you—in an effort to upsell you, but it was true—that the system will only sound as good as its worst component.

From Slate • Aug. 13, 2025

Pressure from IVC has resulted in him feeling he needed to upsell to pet owners, he tells us.

From BBC • Apr. 15, 2025