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
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has upgradedperfect 3rd person singular
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have upgradedperfect
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have been upgradingperfect progressive
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am upgradingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been upgradingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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is upgradingprogressive 3rd person singular
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upgradessingular 3rd person
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upgradingparticiple
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are upgradingprogressive
Past
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had upgradedperfect
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upgradedsimple
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were upgradingprogressive plural
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was upgradingprogressive singular
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upgradedparticiple
-
had been upgradingperfect progressive
Future
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.
Meanwhile, inflation expectations are rising and economic-growth forecasts are being cut by a lesser extent, which amounts to a small upgrade to nominal growth, they add.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 12, 2026
The solicitation marks a retreat in quantity but an upgrade in quality.
From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 10, 2026
Government, as an upgrade to Claude Mythos Preview.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
This sets the stage for a massive hardware upgrade cycle and an earlier-than-expected monetization opportunity.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
“Well, then I’ll have my usual Blazin’ Texan burger, but I’d like to upgrade my side to onion rings.
From "Turtles All the Way Down" by John Green
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.
