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

Now frozen by British sanctions, the properties have fallen into disrepair, the overgrown lots a blight on an upscale street lined with manicured gardens and iron gates.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 30, 2026

In Beirut, strikes this week have largely targeted the Dahieh area, but one early on Wednesday hit a hotel in an upscale suburb in the east of the city.

From BBC • Mar. 4, 2026

Two witnesses on the Palm -- an upscale, palm tree-shaped residential and leisure development -- heard an explosion and saw smoke rising from a five-star hotel.

From Barron's • Feb. 28, 2026

Radio airplay, strong word of mouth, glossy production and a slick cover that looked like an upscale fragrance ad helped the record sell a million copies by September 1976.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 23, 2026

A short time later, he took the train to Zurich about one hour away and registered at an upscale hotel there, using an assumed name.

From "Endgame" by Frank Brady

Related Words

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