upsell

American  

[uhp-sel] / ˈʌpˌsɛl /

verb (used with or without object)

upsold, upselling

1. to try to persuade (a customer) to buy more, or to buy something more expensive.

   I don’t like aggressive salesmen trying to upsell me or tack on expensive warranties.

2. to sell (something) in this way.

   Want to upsell merchandise or VIP experiences on your website? No problem.

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noun

1. an act or instance of making such an attempt (often used attributively).

   Unlike other software companies, we don't have complex pricing tiers or upsells.

   If one of your other products would solve a customer's problem, it's a great opportunity to send an upsell email.

Etymology

Origin of upsell

First recorded in 1975–80; up- ( def. ) + sell ¹ ( def. )

Example Sentences

The difference shakes out to about a $125,000 upsell for the V12.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 18, 2026

“AI is deeply embedded in the upsell momentum for cybersecurity vendors” he said.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 7, 2026

The vet says this would create pressure to "upsell" services.

From BBC • Jan. 12, 2026

“It is also the volume that allows Microsoft to upsell data fabric and other infrastructure software, thus getting growth leverage and lifting AI margins overall.”

From Barron's • Dec. 4, 2025

That changed in the 1980s, as car companies sensed an opportunity—as with SUVs—to upsell customers who would otherwise purchase a cheaper and less profitable passenger car.

From Slate • Dec. 17, 2023