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:
However, Elmbridge Borough Council recently passed a motion calling for the future East Surrey council to update its tree strategy to consider survival rates.
From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026
The county asked Carmel-by-the-Sea residents to update just their physical addresses.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
In Friday’s interview, Seven & i also gave an update on its plan to list 7-Eleven Inc., a move aimed at unlocking shareholder value and streamlining its business structure.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
That month the company launched a major update to its AI agent tool, and a new standalone app called Cue.
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
Let’s update the story to the late 1930s, he suggested to Houseman.
From "Spooked!" by Gail Jarrow
GSK expects to provide updates on its oncology portfolio at the annual congress of the European Society For Medical Oncology, which Miels expects will improve confidence in the pipeline, JPM says.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026
In their updates on Pike's condition after the attempted execution, her team had previously said she was awake and speaking, and experiencing anger and confusion.
From BBC ● Oct. 8, 2026
But 15 minutes into the trip, he heard the telltale sounds of a work call coming from seat 4A: agenda updates, awkward pauses and everyone’s favorite: “Can you see my screen?”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 7, 2026
According to The Real Deal, they included upgrades to the fireplace, a new roof, lighting and electrical updates, and improvements to the heating system.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 7, 2026
In other news, the Weed continues to send useless updates of his trials in the kingdom of the goblins.
From "The Assassination of Brangwain Spurge" by M.T. Anderson and Eugene Yelchin
The anger about Plan 2 grew after the government announced updated terms in November.
From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026
Williams returned to those observations using an updated chemical database and discovered that niobium accounted for many of the previously unexplained signatures.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 9, 2026
“If the voter prefers to vote in person and they haven’t yet updated their address, we will assist them with completing an address update form at the polling place.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
The San Francisco-based AI lab updated its usage policy to include "a prohibition on sustained and needless abusive or cruel behavior toward our models."
From Barron's ● Oct. 8, 2026
We updated Mom and Dad on our theories about the Cavanaughs.
From "Insignificant Events in the Life of a Cactus" by Dusti Bowling
“They can return their ballot without updating their information,” Martinez said.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 9, 2026
Kitson said the production team would restore the tea room once filming was completed, as well as repairing a broken window and updating its signage.
From BBC ● Oct. 5, 2026
Summit played up his corporate background by updating his old LinkedIn profile with a badge announcing he was “Open to Work.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 5, 2026
One such organization, the Heritage Foundation, had been publishing “Mandate for Leadership,” its so-called policy guide, since 1981 and updating it as necessary.
From Salon ● Oct. 1, 2026
After posting her message to the forum, Emily gave James a tour of the Book Scavenger site, updating her profile information so it listed San Francisco as her city and Booker Middle School for “school/work.”
From "Book Scavenger" by Jennifer Chambliss Bertman
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.
