upgrade
English meaning: Upgrade
Definition
An upward grade or slope.
Example
“You should upgrade your phone's software to fix the bug.”
Another example: “The airline gave us a free upgrade to business class.”
Usage — When, Where & How
A noun and verb for an improvement to a better version, model or class; very common in technology ('software upgrade', 'free upgrade') and travel ('a seat upgrade'). The literal 'upward slope' sense is rare today. Neutral in register.
Etymology & Origin
English — Origin & History
A late-19th-century compound of 'up' and 'grade' (Latin 'gradus', a step), originally meaning an upward slope, later 'an improvement' in the 20th century.
Synonyms
Antonyms / Opposites
- downgrade
- demotion
Related Words
- ducal
- kits
- motorway
- hanover
- android
- freeway
- watts
- processor
- capability
- kit
Common Collocations
- software upgrade
- free upgrade
- major upgrade
- upgrade your plan
- seat upgrade
- system upgrade
Word Forms
upgrade (n & v); upgrades; upgraded; upgrading
Word Tools
Literary Heritage
“To thine own self be true, and it must follow, as the night the day, thou canst not then be false to any man.”
/To thine own self be true/
“Be honest with yourself — and as naturally as night follows day, you will be unable to be false to others.”
“I'm nobody! Who are you? Are you nobody, too?”
/I'm nobody! Who are you?/
“I am nobody — and that quiet anonymity is more honest than the noise of public fame.”
Images
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Language information
- Language
- English
- English
- Script
- Latin
- Family
- Indo-European
- Speakers
- 1.5B