upgrade

Noun

• the act of improving something (especially machinery) by raising it to a higher grade (as by adding or replacing components)
  • the power plant received a new upgrade
    

• hardware that provides better performance than an earlier version did

• the property possessed by a slope or surface that rises

• a reservation that is improved
  • I got an upgrade to first class when coach class was full
    

• software that provides better performance than an earlier version did

• an upward slope or grade (as in a road)
  • the car couldn't make it up the rise
    

Verb

• give better travel conditions to
  • The airline upgraded me when I arrived late and Coach Class was full
    

• get better travel conditions
  • I upgraded to First Class when Coach Class was overbooked
    

• give a promotion to or assign to a higher position
  • John was kicked upstairs when a replacement was hired
    
  • Women tend not to advance in the major law firms
    
  • I got promoted after many years of hard work
    

• to improve what was old or outdated
  • I've upgraded my computer so I can run better software
    
  • The company upgraded their personnel
    

• rate higher; raise in value or esteem

Related words

• Synonyms: 
  rise , rising slope , ascent , acclivity , raise , climb , promote , advance , kick upstairs , elevate
• Antonyms: 
  descent , declivity , fall , decline , declination , declension , downslope , demote , bump , relegate , break , kick downstairs , downgrade