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

Soon, the bear family moved again—this time to upscale Encino just over the mountain, where they sparked a media circus after surfacing behind the tennis courts of a mansion in late October.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

An upscale supermarket I frequent plays music at an insanely high volume.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Richemont, the owner of upscale brands including Cartier, reported a pick-up in sales growth, propelled by its jewelry division and as hopes for recovery in the luxury sector emerge.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

A Wall Street Journal investigation traced how a chain of deals across several countries got the chips inside the data center, which is wedged between a private school and an upscale apartment complex.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Design.Space felt like being in the fanciest department store in an upscale mall 30 years ago.

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Related Words

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