Synonyms of upgrade

upgrade 1 of 2

noun

ˈəp-ˌgrād 

1

as in hill

an upward slope

had to walk our bicycle on the upgrades on our ride through the hills

Synonyms & Similar Words

• hill
• inclination
• climb
• incline
• ascent
• uphill
• rise
• uprise
• rake
• acclivity
• gradient
• tilt
• lean
• pitch
• cant
• diagonal
• grade
• ridge
• hump
• swell
• glacis
• mound

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• decline
• downgrade
• fall
• dip
• hanging
• downhill
• descent
• declension
• declivity
• basin
• depression
• drop-off
• hang
• hollow

2

as in promotion

a raising or a state of being raised to a higher rank or position

received an upgrade to lieutenant

Synonyms & Similar Words

• promotion
• advancement
• upgrading
• rise
• ascent
• creation
• elevation
• preference
• preferment
• magnification
• aggrandizement
• exaltation
• glorification
• ennoblement

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reduction
• downgrade
• degradation
• removal
• demotion
• suspension
• discharge
• deposition
• dismissal
• overthrow
• abasement
• expulsion
• impeachment
• comedown
• disrating
• ouster
• fall
• downfall
• dethronement
• unseating
• unmaking

3

as in slope

the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon

there's a steep upgrade to some of the hills on that route

Synonyms & Similar Words

• slope
• inclination
• incline
• gradient
• lean
• pitch
• climb
• rake
• grade
• diagonal
• ascent
• cant
• bank
• slant
• rise

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• downgrade
• decline
• fall
• dip
• hanging
• declination
• descent
• declension
• declivity
• hang
• receding

upgrade

2 of 2

verb

ˈəp-ˌgrād 

1

as in to promote

to move higher in rank or position

upgraded them to first class

Synonyms & Similar Words

• promote
• elevate
• advance
• improve
• raise
• kick upstairs
• forward
• further
• lift
• uplift
• boost
• heighten
• compliment
• aggrandize
• decorate
• knight
• honor
• celebrate
• commission
• commend
• congratulate
• ennoble
• applaud
• salute
• cite
• praise
• acclaim
• exalt
• hail
• laud
• eulogize
• extol
• glorify

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• reduce
• downgrade
• degrade
• remove
• lower
• dismiss
• overthrow
• expel
• impeach
• oust
• unseat
• depose
• demote
• humble
• take down
• shame
• humiliate
• disgrace
• abase
• dishonor
• dethrone
• demean
• unmake
• condemn
• denounce
• damn
• censure
• mortify
• reprobate

2

as in to improve

to make better

that restaurant had better upgrade its service—and fast—if it wants to stay in business

Synonyms & Similar Words

• improve
• enhance
• better
• refine
• amend
• remedy
• help
• remediate
• perfect
• ameliorate
• enrich
• reinforce
• refurbish
• rectify
• correct
• meliorate
• revise
• rehabilitate
• reform
• strengthen
• revamp
• intensify
• rework
• edit
• boost
• fine
• fine-tune
• fortify
• polish
• rehab
• redraft
• beef (up)
• emend
• hone
• retouch
• touch up

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

• worsen
• damage
• hurt
• impair
• harm
• tarnish
• flaw
• injure
• spoil
• reduce
• vitiate
• diminish
• disfigure
• endamage
• mar
• deface
• blight
• lower
• lessen
• blemish

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of upgrade

Noun

The big upgrade here is that ER 2 can process live video feeds from the robot’s cameras, allowing the system to track progress as the robot lumbers from one step to the next. — Ryan Whitwam, ArsTechnica, 30 July 2026

This year, the ticket tax funneled $4 million back into Moda, which helped offset the team’s $10 million scoreboard upgrade last summer. — Esfandiar Baraheni, New York Times, 30 July 2026

Verb

Extra bedrooms, sunrooms and offices increase square footage, which often means higher bills unless insulation and HVAC are upgraded to match. — Lauren Jarvis-Gibson july 30, Miami Herald, 30 July 2026

The plan required both upgrading the network’s long-distance fiber backbone—known in telecom as the backhaul—while also building the local infrastructure that would connect individual homes to the internet. — IEEE Spectrum, 30 July 2026