trade up

British  

verb

1. (intr, adverb) to sell a small or relatively inexpensive house, car, etc, and replace it with a larger or more expensive one

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trade up Idioms  

1. see under trade down.

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Example Sentences

—European stocks gained at market open, as defense stocks recouped some losses from the last session and technology companies continued to trade up.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 2, 2026

Its London shares trade up 0.4% to 7,802 pence.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 19, 2026

Social Security comes with a survivorship clause, meaning that when the spouse getting the higher Social Security payments dies, the surviving spouse can trade up and get the higher of the two payments.

From MarketWatch • May 1, 2026

General manager Les Snead has never been shy about attempting to trade up to select a desired player or back to acquire more draft capital.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 22, 2026

Families with incomes of $100,000 head for subdivisions built entirely of $300,000 houses; those earning $200,000 trade up to subdivisions of $500,000 houses.

From "Class Matters" by The New York Times