upgrade

verb

up·​grade ˈəp-ˌgrād  ˌəp-ˈgrād 

upgraded; upgrading; upgrades

transitive verb

: to raise or improve the grade of: such as

a

: to advance to a job requiring a higher level of skill especially as part of a training program

b

: to raise the quality of

c

: to raise the classification and usually the price of without improving the quality

d

: to extend the usefulness of (something, such as a device)

e

: to assign a less serious status to

upgraded the patient's condition to good

f

: to improve (livestock) by use of purebred sires

intransitive verb

1

: to replace something (such as software or an electronic device) with a more useful version or alternative

Upgrading to a new operating system can make people anxious, even under the best of circumstances.

—Macworld

2

: to get something of better quality than the original

We were able to upgrade to first class seats.

upgradability noun

or upgradeability

ˌəp-ˌgrā-də-ˈbi-lə-tē 

upgradable adjective

or upgradeable

ˌəp-ˈgrā-də-bəl 

Synonyms of upgrade

• promote
• elevate

Examples of upgrade in a Sentence

This course will help you to upgrade your computer skills.

They've upgraded the quality of their service.

The city is upgrading the sewage treatment plant.

The office is upgrading the telephone system.

They upgraded the hotel to attract more business patrons.

We were able to upgrade to first class.

We had reserved a double room, but the hotel upgraded us to a suite.

Recent Examples on the Web

The former Prussian royal palace, built in the 18th century, is set to undergo extensive renovations, including a repair of the roof, a new air conditioning system and upgraded offices. —ABC News, 8 June 2026

Piper Sandler upgrades Teleflex to overweight from neutral Piper says the medtech company is undervalued. —Michael Bloom, CNBC, 8 June 2026

If your bedroom faces the sun, consider upgrading to thermal blackout curtains to keep the room cooler. —Bestreviews, Chicago Tribune, 8 June 2026

At the same time, Republican Senator John Boozman from Arkansas secured $45 million in earmarks to upgrade the University of Arkansas Medical Center, which is a predominantly white school. —Heather McCambly, The Conversation, 8 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1901, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for upgrade

• afraid
• allayed
• arcade
• arrayed
• assayed
• barmaid
• betrayed
• blockade
• bridesmaid
• brigade
• brocade
• buffeted

Kids Definition

upgrade

1 of 2 noun

up·​grade ˈəp-ˌgrād 

1

: an upward grade or slope

2

: rise entry 2 sense 4

crime has been on the upgrade

upgrade

2 of 2 verb

up·​grade ˈəp-ˌgrād  ˌəp-ˈgrād 

1

: to raise to a higher grade or position

2

: to improve or replace especially software or a device for increased usefulness

upgradability noun

or upgradeability

ˌəp-ˌgrād-ə-ˈbil-ət-ē 

upgradable adjective

or upgradeable

ˌəp-ˈgrād-ə-bəl 

Medical Definition

upgrade

transitive verb

up·​grade ˈəp-ˌgrād, ˌəp-ˈ 

upgraded; upgrading

1

: to assign a less serious status to

upgraded the patient's condition from fair to good

2

: to reclassify (as a cancer, concussion, or bone fracture) to a more serious grade when the grades are numbered from least to most serious