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. )

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

upsell upselling upsold

The seats will go on sale later this year, so no word yet on the upsell.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 17, 2026

“The acquisition follows SoundHound’s recent playbook to acquire key customer relationships that SoundHound can cross-sell and upsell driven by interest in its best-of-breed voice-AI platform,” Luria said.

From MarketWatch ● May 7, 2026

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

From BBC ● Jan. 12, 2026

Gifted with every upsell in Hyundai’s ample larder, our Calligraphy AWD tester carried 364 pounds of extra luxury around its midsection, compared to the FWD model.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 8, 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

Service companies often reject the suggestion that diagnostic or investigation fees are simply a form of upselling.

From MarketWatch ● Jun. 10, 2026

Its strategies include upselling and expanding value-added services such as cybersecurity and IT solutions, while strengthening efforts to retain higher-value customers, it adds.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 30, 2026

When parents arrive at the end of the school day, the children spring into action; holding customer's bags, totting up totals and, in Edward's case, upselling a tin or two.

From BBC ● Feb. 2, 2026

The only other downside was the relentless upselling throughout the cruise — from drink packages to spa treatments, it felt like someone was always trying to sell us something.

From Salon ● Jul. 20, 2025

Equally boneheaded: turning one of the last bastions of egalitarianism into yet another VIP-worshipping, comfort-plus upselling economic hierarchy.

From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 7, 2023

Still, there’s a difference between being tricked and being upsold.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 30, 2026

They were upsold facial filler for places they did not initially request it, and after the treatment were left with extreme swelling and fluid pooling under their eyes.

From BBC ● Dec. 8, 2025

“We don’t really know if any of this is working, if customers are being upsold, if they’re spending more or tipping more, even if they’re liking robots or just tolerating them,” Moreo says.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 7, 2022

If you regularly use an Alexa device, you’ve probably been upsold by Amazon’s assistant at some point.

From The Verge ● Dec. 23, 2021

My sticker shock came when I decided they were annoying to carry and went to buy the carrying cases, and was somehow upsold on ice packs to slip into said carrying cases …

From Slate ● May 31, 2021

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