update
Americanverb (used with object)
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updates,
present (3rd person singular)
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updated,
past participle, past
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updating
present participle
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to bring (a book, figures, or the like) up to date as by adding new information or making corrections.
to update a science textbook.
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Computers. to incorporate new or more accurate information in (a database, program, procedure, etc.).
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to bring (a person, organization, etc.) up to date on a particular subject.
The magazine article will update you on the international situation.
noun
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updates
plural
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an act or instance of updating.
to make an update in a financial ledger.
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information or data used in updating.
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an updated version, model, or the like.
verb
noun
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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updatesimple
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updatessimple
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have updatedperfect
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has updatedperfect
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am updatingprogressive
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are updatingprogressive
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is updatingprogressive
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have been updatingperfect progressive
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has been updatingperfect progressive
Past
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updatedsimple
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had updatedperfect
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was updatingprogressive
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were updatingprogressive
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had been updatingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of update
Explanation
When you renovate or improve something, changing it to make it more modern, you can say you update it. The process of doing this can also be called an update. If you decide to download the latest version of an app or program, you update it, and when you add recent information to your resume before starting a job search, you also update that. You might also update your friends about your job hunt, letting them know you're seeking employment — you're giving them the latest information, or an update. The verb dates from the 1940s.
Vocabulary lists containing update
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
The update also means that some groups will no longer need to be consulted on housing development plans as part of the process of getting permission.
From BBC ● Aug. 16, 2026
If a new homeowner purchased a property at a significantly higher purchase price as compared to the home’s last assessed value, local tax assessors could update the property value, and that could mean higher taxes.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 15, 2026
Gervais posted a love heart emoji in the comments to her health update.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
“Every successive update we would get from her was just unbelievably surreal,” said Josh Augustin, who plays drums and keys and does production for the band.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 14, 2026
Sergei called his father’s office at the Kremlin to ask for an update.
From "Fallout: Spies, Superbombs, and the Ultimate Cold War Showdown" by Steve Sheinkin
When the data center issue first flared up last year, Bare was in the hospital with a severe spinal infection, fielding worried updates from her mother.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 16, 2026
D’Amaro is no stranger to the D23 stage; in his past role as parks chief, he would give updates on the latest news for the experiences division.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 15, 2026
It has also urged commuters planning to travel on Monday to check for updates on its website, external on Sunday evening.
From BBC ● Aug. 14, 2026
Though not immediately visible to the naked eye, the ranch features a number of infrastructural updates, including automated irrigation and a fire suppression system that runs off an 18,000-gallon tank buried underground.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 12, 2026
Hal took it upon himself to send telegrams containing the doctors’ updates to relatives and friends in Ohio.
From "Ambushed!" by Gail Jarrow
Those estimates will get updated after investors dig through Thursday’s latest inflation report.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026
On Wednesday evening, the Santa Paula rescue center updated its Facebook page to mourn the death of Bruce.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026
Parents and guardians will be kept updated on when they can expect to receive pouches for their children.
From BBC ● Aug. 12, 2026
Furthermore, Super Micro reported an adjusted gross margin of 17.6% for the June quarter, which was above even the updated guidance range it gave last month for between 15% and 17%.
From MarketWatch ● Aug. 11, 2026
Only his suit has changed, updated to fit the current style.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
SL Green said it had previously identified the inconsistency with the steel columns and was working on updating its design plans to later file with the city.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 29, 2026
A lack of updating, rising mall rents and splurges on new businesses weakened its business until it declared bankruptcy in 2014.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 22, 2026
“The Social Network” prophesied a new era of digital media pollution at the hands of an antisocial egomaniac, updating “Citizen Kane” for the world’s next tectonic shift.
From Salon ● Jul. 22, 2026
He also raised revenue and EPS estimates, updating his models based on committed revenues from new business model contracts.
From MarketWatch ● Jul. 13, 2026
Fresh wording and concrete images force us to keep updating the virtual reality display in our minds.
From "The Sense of Style" by Steven Pinker
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
