upgrade

[noun uhp-greyd; adjective, adverb uhp-greyd; verb uhp-greyd, uhp-greyd]

noun

an incline going up in the direction of movement.
an increase or improvement: an upgrade in the year's profit forecast.
a new version, improved model, etc.: The company is offering an upgrade of its sports sedan.

an increase or improvement in one's service, accommodations, privileges, or the like: If the ship isn't full we'll receive an upgrade to a deluxe stateroom.
something, as a piece of equipment, that serves to improve or enhance: a full range of upgrades available for your computer.

adjective

uphill; of, pertaining to, on, or along an upgrade.

adverb

up a slope.

verb (used with object), up·grad·ed, up·grad·ing.

to promote to a higher grade or rank: He has been upgraded to senior vice president.
to improve or enhance the quality or value of: to upgrade property by landscaping it.

verb (used without object), up·grad·ed, up·grad·ing.

to improve the quality, value, effectiveness, or performance of something: Buy this basic computer and upgrade whenever you're ready.

Origin of upgrade

An Americanism dating back to 1870–75; up- + grade

Related formsup·grad·a·ble, up·grade·a·ble, adjectiveup·grad·a·bil·i·ty, up·grade·a·bil·i·ty, nounup·grad·er, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

British Dictionary definitions for upgradeable

upgrade

verb (ʌpˈɡreɪd) (tr)

to assign or promote (a person or job) to a higher professional rank or position
to raise in value, importance, esteem, etc
to improve (a breed of livestock) by crossing with a better strain

noun (ˈʌpˌɡreɪd)

US and Canadian an upward slope
on the upgrade improving or progressing, as in importance, status, health, etc

adjective

US and Canadian going or sloping upwards

adverb (ˈʌpˈɡreɪd)

US and Canadian up an incline, hill, or slope

Derived Formsupgrader, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for upgradeable

upgrade

1873, "upward slope," from up + grade. The meaning "upgraded version" is recorded from 1980; the verb in this sense is attested from 1920 (implied in upgrading).