upgrade
UHP-grayd
Upgrade (noun) means an improved version of something, often a piece of technology or equipment. Example: “Adding more memory to the laptop was a cheap but useful upgrade.”
noun
1
An improved version of something, often a piece of technology or equipment.
"Adding more memory to the laptop was a cheap but useful upgrade."
"The latest software upgrade fixed several problems and made the app run faster."
"The new processor is a huge upgrade over the old one."
verb
1
To replace something with a better or more advanced version.
"You should upgrade your phone's software to get the newest security protection."
"We upgraded our internet plan for faster speeds."
"The airline upgraded her to business class."
How to use upgrade
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo make something better, newer, or higher-level than before.
Common pairings
upgrade to
free upgrade
software upgrade
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Word forms
- Plural
- upgrades
- Third person singular
- upgrades
- Past tense
- upgraded
- Comparative
- further upgrade, farther upgrade
- Superlative
- furthest upgrade, farthest upgrade
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Adding more memory to the laptop was a cheap but useful _____.
Etymology
From up- + grade, originally describing an upward slope before extending to any improvement.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for upgrade
See all rhymes for upgrade →Frequently asked questions
What does “upgrade” mean?
The word “upgrade” means an improved version of something, often a piece of technology or equipment. In plain terms, to make something better, newer, or higher-level than before.
How do you pronounce “upgrade”?
“Upgrade” is pronounced UHP-grayd (/ˈʌp.ɡɹeɪd/ in IPA).
How do you use “upgrade” in a sentence?
Here is “upgrade” used in a sentence: “The new processor is a huge upgrade over the old one.”
What part of speech is “upgrade”?
Depending on how it is used, “upgrade” can be a noun and a verb.
Is “upgrade” a common word?
“Upgrade” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “upgrade” have?
“Upgrade” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: an improved version of something, often a piece of technology or equipment.
What is the difference between an upgrade and an update?
An upgrade replaces something with a better or more advanced version, often adding new features or capabilities, while an update makes smaller changes to an existing version, such as fixing problems or refreshing content without changing the core product. Upgrades tend to be bigger steps forward, whereas updates are routine improvements.
What is the opposite of 'upgrade'?
The opposite of 'upgrade' is 'downgrade', which means to replace something with a lower, cheaper, or less advanced version. For example, moving to a smaller room or an older software edition would be a downgrade.
When should you use 'upgrade' instead of 'improve'?
Use 'upgrade' when you replace something with a distinctly better or more advanced version, especially with technology, equipment, or service tiers. Use 'improve' for making something better in a general sense, even when the original item is kept and simply refined rather than replaced.
What prepositions are used with 'upgrade'?
You typically 'upgrade to' a better version and 'upgrade from' an older one, as in 'she upgraded to the newest phone from her old model'. As a noun, you can also describe something as 'an upgrade on' a previous version.
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