Definition

1. Noun:

   • An improvement or enhancement: The act of improving something, especially machinery or technology, by adding or replacing components to achieve better performance or a higher standard.
   • A higher grade or class: A reservation, ticket, or status that is improved to a better category than the one originally purchased or held.
   • An upward slope: An incline or rising surface, such as on a road.

2. Verb:

   • To improve or enhance: To raise something to a higher standard, grade, or performance level, often by adding new components or features.
   • To promote or assign to a higher position: To give someone a higher rank or more important job.
   • To receive better conditions: To be moved to a better class or category, often in travel or services.

Examples

• Noun:

  • The factory installed a new upgrade to increase production efficiency.
  • We were delighted to receive a complimentary upgrade to a suite at the hotel.
  • The cyclists struggled on the steep upgrade.

• Verb:

  • The company plans to upgrade its software next month.
  • She was upgraded to senior manager after her successful project.
  • If the flight is full, they might upgrade you to business class.

Advanced Usage

• "To be on the upgrade": To be in the process of improving or becoming more successful.
  • The local economy is on the upgrade after a difficult period.

Variants and Related Words

• Upgradable (adj): Capable of being improved or enhanced.

  • The device is upgradable, so you can add more memory later.

• Upgrading (n): The process or act of making an upgrade.

  • The upgrading of the network took all weekend.

Synonyms

• Improve: To make something better.
• Enhance: To intensify or increase the quality of something.
• Promote: To advance someone to a higher position.

Related Phrasal Verbs

• Upgrade to: To change to a better version or class.
  • I decided to upgrade to the latest model of the phone.

Related Idioms

• A step up: An improvement or advancement.
  • The new job is a real step up from her last position.

Noun

1. 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
2. hardware that provides better performance than an earlier version did
3. the property possessed by a slope or surface that rises
4. a reservation that is improved
   • I got an upgrade to first class when coach class was full
5. software that provides better performance than an earlier version did
6. an upward slope or grade (as in a road)
   • the car couldn't make it up the rise

Verb

1. give better travel conditions to
   • The airline upgraded me when I arrived late and Coach Class was full
2. get better travel conditions
   • I upgraded to First Class when Coach Class was overbooked
3. 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
4. to improve what was old or outdated
   • I've upgraded my computer so I can run better software
   • The company upgraded their personnel
5. rate higher; raise in value or esteem