upgrade
Americannoun
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an incline going up in the direction of movement.
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an increase or improvement.
an upgrade in the year's profit forecast.
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a new version, improved model, etc..
The company is offering an upgrade of its sports sedan.
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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.
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something, as a piece of equipment, that serves to improve or enhance.
a full range of upgrades available for your computer.
adjective
adverb
verb (used with object)
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to promote to a higher grade or rank.
He has been upgraded to senior vice president.
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to improve or enhance the quality or value of.
to upgrade property by landscaping it.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to assign or promote (a person or job) to a higher professional rank or position
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to raise in value, importance, esteem, etc
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to improve (a breed of livestock) by crossing with a better strain
noun
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an upward slope
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improving or progressing, as in importance, status, health, etc
adjective
adverb
Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of upgrade
Explanation
To upgrade is to make improvements to something or exchange it for a better version. Some people upgrade their phone every time a new model comes out, while others prudently wait to see which new features they really need. Upgrade is also a noun: "I was lucky enough to get an upgrade to the first-class section of the plane!" Whether a noun or a verb, this word commonly used to refer to electronic equipment, particularly computers and smartphones. If a company upgrades the network in their offices, they purchase new computers or improve internet connection speeds. The original meaning of the noun upgrade was "sloping up," as in a steep hill.
Vocabulary lists containing upgrade
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for August 14–August 20, 2021
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for December 1–December 7, 2024
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Vocabulary from Readings 2, Unit 3
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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.
The upgrade comes after figures released last week showed the economy grew by 0.6% in the first three months of the year, led by a rebound in areas such as retailing and construction.
From BBC • May 18, 2026
“We’re starting the next leg higher for faster communications as we enter a whole new upgrade cycle,” Johnson said.
From MarketWatch • May 15, 2026
Either option could bring hefty costs, particularly if the county doesn’t end up paying for the sewer line upgrade and it falls on residents.
From Los Angeles Times • May 15, 2026
The credit would be awarded to businesses that install or upgrade their own on-site water-recycling systems, as well as to those that build or expand municipal systems.
From The Wall Street Journal • May 13, 2026
“I don’t think I’d want to get an upgrade, or whatever you call it,” Michael said.
From "The First State of Being" by Erin Entrada Kelly
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.
