upgrade
Americannoun
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an incline going up in the direction of movement.
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an increase or improvement.
an upgrade in the year's profit forecast.
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a new version, improved model, etc..
The company is offering an upgrade of its sports sedan.
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an increase or improvement in one's service, accommodations, privileges, or the like.
If the ship isn't full we'll receive an upgrade to a deluxe stateroom.
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something, as a piece of equipment, that serves to improve or enhance.
a full range of upgrades available for your computer.
adjective
adverb
verb (used with object)
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to promote to a higher grade or rank.
He has been upgraded to senior vice president.
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to improve or enhance the quality or value of.
to upgrade property by landscaping it.
verb (used without object)
verb
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to assign or promote (a person or job) to a higher professional rank or position
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to raise in value, importance, esteem, etc
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to improve (a breed of livestock) by crossing with a better strain
noun
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an upward slope
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improving or progressing, as in importance, status, health, etc
adjective
adverb
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Conjugated Forms
Present
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has upgradedperfect 3rd person singular
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have upgradedperfect
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is upgradingprogressive 3rd person singular
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are upgradingprogressive
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have been upgradingperfect progressive
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am upgradingprogressive 1st person singular
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has been upgradingperfect progressive 3rd person singular
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upgradessingular 3rd person
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upgradingparticiple
Past
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had upgradedperfect
-
had been upgradingperfect progressive
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were upgradingprogressive plural
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was upgradingprogressive singular
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upgradedsimple
-
upgradedparticiple
Future
Etymology
Origin of upgrade
Explanation
To upgrade is to make improvements to something or exchange it for a better version. Some people upgrade their phone every time a new model comes out, while others prudently wait to see which new features they really need. Upgrade is also a noun: "I was lucky enough to get an upgrade to the first-class section of the plane!" Whether a noun or a verb, this word commonly used to refer to electronic equipment, particularly computers and smartphones. If a company upgrades the network in their offices, they purchase new computers or improve internet connection speeds. The original meaning of the noun upgrade was "sloping up," as in a steep hill.
Vocabulary lists containing upgrade
This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for August 14–August 20, 2021
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This Week in Words: Current Events Vocab for December 1–December 7, 2024
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Vocabulary from Readings 2, Unit 3
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Both the Senate and House bills contain a new requirement that private aircraft further upgrade to obtain ADS-B In—allowing pilots to see aircraft around them.
From The Wall Street Journal • Jun. 11, 2026
This is important because it opens the door to manufactures deemed to be more than 2% behind the most powerful engine to upgrade their engines this year and next.
From BBC • Jun. 10, 2026
Government, as an upgrade to Claude Mythos Preview.
From Barron's • Jun. 9, 2026
This sets the stage for a massive hardware upgrade cycle and an earlier-than-expected monetization opportunity.
From MarketWatch • Jun. 9, 2026
“You know, like when they come out with a computer upgrade, they call it 2.0?” she said.
From "City Spies" by James Ponti
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
