upscale

[uhp-skeyl, uhp-skeyl, uhp-skeyl]

adjective

1. located at, moving toward, or of or for the upper end of a social or economic scale.

   The boutique caters to upscale young career people.

2. luxurious, costly, or elegant.

verb (used with object)

upscaled, upscaling 

1. to improve the quality, value, or rating of.

   a five-year plan to upscale the neighborhood.

noun

(used with a plural verb)

1. elegant, elite, privileged persons collectively.

   shops that only the upscale can afford to patronize.

upscale

adjective

1. of or for the upper end of an economic or social scale; up-market

verb

1. (tr) to increase the scale of

Word History and Origins

Origin of upscale¹

An Americanism dating back to 1970–75; up- + scale ³

Example Sentences

The vehicle was found parked on a street in an upscale Hollywood Hills neighborhood where 20-year-old D4vd, whose real name is David Anthony Burke, was renting a home.

From Los Angeles Times

A local Realtor, Chitwood and a contractor friend had built 120 new houses together, including, only four years before the fire, his home and others in the upscale Land Park subdivision.

From Los Angeles Times

On Sept. 17, detectives served a search warrant at the home in the upscale neighborhood on Doheny Drive, where law enforcement sources with knowledge of the case said several electronic items, including computers, were seized.

From Los Angeles Times

They live together in the upscale apartment of Thooya's sugar daddy.

From BBC

Detectives served a search warrant Wednesday evening at a home in an upscale neighborhood on Doheny Drive, north of Sunset Boulevard.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• comfortable 
• deluxe 
• expensive 
• extravagant 
• fancy 
• gorgeous 
• grand 
• imposing 
• lavish 
• lush 
• opulent 
• ostentatious 
• palatial 
• plush 
• posh 
• ritzy 
• splendid 
• stately 
• sumptuous