upscale

American  

[uhp-skeyl, uhp-skeyl, uhp-skeyl] / ˈʌpˈskeɪl, ʌpˈskeɪl, ˈʌpˌskeɪl /

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.

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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 British  

adjective

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

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verb

1. (tr) to increase the scale of

Etymology

Origin of upscale

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

Example Sentences

For the last 15 years, we have enjoyed an upscale lifestyle beyond anything we could have dreamed possible.

From MarketWatch

So when the first boxes of an upscale brand called Goodles landed on store shelves in 2022, the company wasn’t especially worried.

From The Wall Street Journal

Sam’s Club had long struggled to break away from Walmart’s budget reputation, making it difficult to reach coveted upscale shoppers.

From The Wall Street Journal

Related’s most recent project is 700 Broadway in Santa Monica, an upscale apartment complex with a private park, a grocery store and an Equinox Fitness Club.

From Los Angeles Times

The transcript states that the victim was taken into an upscale building by “a girl with a funny name.”

From Salon

Related Words

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