trade up
verb
traded up; trading up; trades up
1
: to trade in (something, such as an automobile) for something more expensive or valuable of its kind
2
: to stock or purchase higher-priced items
Examples of trade up in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
The Panthers moved back from 51 to 56 (which Seattle had traded up for), while getting the Seahawks’ third-round pick (96) and giving up one of their fifths (158).
—
Joseph Person, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Mayaka never played a minute for Colorado, the team that traded up to take him.
—Idaho Statesman, 4 Mar. 2026
One of those picks allowed the Chiefs to trade up to select McDuffie weeks later.
—Sam McDowell March 4, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
Homeowners who secured rock-bottom rates during the pandemic have had little incentive to sell and trade up to today’s higher borrowing costs.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trade up
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Joseph Person, New York Times, 5 Mar. 2026
Mayaka never played a minute for Colorado, the team that traded up to take him.
—Idaho Statesman, 4 Mar. 2026
One of those picks allowed the Chiefs to trade up to select McDuffie weeks later.
—Sam McDowell March 4, Kansas City Star, 4 Mar. 2026
Homeowners who secured rock-bottom rates during the pandemic have had little incentive to sell and trade up to today’s higher borrowing costs.
—Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 26 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trade up
Cite this Entry
“Trade up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trade%20up. Accessed 9 Mar. 2026.
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