adj
Uncommon
upscale
UHPS-kayl
Upscale (adj) means Expensive and aimed at wealthier customers. Example: “They opened an upscale restaurant downtown.”
adj
1
Expensive and aimed at wealthier customers.
"They opened an upscale restaurant downtown."
verb
1
To increase something in scale or size.
"The factory plans to upscale production next year."
How to use upscale
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFancy and pricey, or to make something bigger/grander.
Common pairings
upscale neighborhood
upscale dining
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- upscales
- Past tense
- upscaled
- Comparative
- more upscale
- Superlative
- most upscale
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
They opened an _____ restaurant downtown.
Etymology
From up + scale, first used as an adjective in 1966 and as a verb in 1963.
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for upscale
See all rhymes for upscale →Frequently asked questions
What does “upscale” mean?
The word “upscale” means expensive and aimed at wealthier customers. In plain terms, fancy and pricey, or to make something bigger/grander.
How do you pronounce “upscale”?
“Upscale” is pronounced UHPS-kayl (/ˈʌpskeɪl/ in IPA).
How do you use “upscale” in a sentence?
Here is “upscale” used in a sentence: “They opened an upscale restaurant downtown.”
What part of speech is “upscale”?
Depending on how it is used, “upscale” can be an adjective and a verb.
Where does the word “upscale” come from?
The word “upscale” dates back to around 1966. From up + scale, first used as an adjective in 1966 and as a verb in 1963.
Is “upscale” a common word?
“Upscale” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “upscale” have?
“Upscale” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: expensive and aimed at wealthier customers.
