UPGRADE

Pronunciation (US):

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IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does upgrade mean? 

• UPGRADE (noun)
  The noun UPGRADE has 6 senses:

1. an upward slope or grade (as in a road)

2. software that provides better performance than an earlier version did

3. a reservation that is improved

4. the property possessed by a slope or surface that rises

5. hardware that provides better performance than an earlier version did

6. the act of improving something (especially machinery) by raising it to a higher grade (as by adding or replacing components)

  Familiarity information: UPGRADE used as a noun is common.

• UPGRADE (verb)
  The verb UPGRADE has 5 senses:

1. rate higher; raise in value or esteem

2. to improve what was old or outdated

3. give a promotion to or assign to a higher position

4. get better travel conditions

5. give better travel conditions to

  Familiarity information: UPGRADE used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UPGRADE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An upward slope or grade (as in a road)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural objects (not man-made)

Synonyms:

acclivity; ascent; climb; raise; rise; upgrade

Context example:

the car couldn't make it up the rise

Hypernyms ("upgrade" is a kind of...):

incline; side; slope (an elevated geological formation)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "upgrade"):

uphill (the upward slope of a hill)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Software that provides better performance than an earlier version did

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Hypernyms ("upgrade" is a kind of...):

computer software; package; software; software package; software program; software system ((computer science) written programs or procedures or rules and associated documentation pertaining to the operation of a computer system and that are stored in read/write memory)

Derivation:

upgrade (to improve what was old or outdated)

Sense 3

Meaning:

A reservation that is improved

Classified under:

Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents

Context example:

I got an upgrade to first class when coach class was full

Hypernyms ("upgrade" is a kind of...):

reservation (something reserved in advance (as a hotel accommodation or a seat on a plane etc.))

Derivation:

upgrade (give better travel conditions to)

upgrade (get better travel conditions)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The property possessed by a slope or surface that rises

Classified under:

Nouns denoting attributes of people and objects

Synonyms:

rise; rising slope; upgrade

Hypernyms ("upgrade" is a kind of...):

grade (the gradient of a slope or road or other surface)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Hardware that provides better performance than an earlier version did

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("upgrade" is a kind of...):

computer hardware; hardware ((computer science) the mechanical, magnetic, electronic, and electrical components making up a computer system)

Derivation:

upgrade (to improve what was old or outdated)

Sense 6

Meaning:

The act of improving something (especially machinery) by raising it to a higher grade (as by adding or replacing components)

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Context example:

the power plant received a new upgrade

Hypernyms ("upgrade" is a kind of...):

improvement (the act of improving something)

• UPGRADE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they upgrade    ... he / she / it upgrades   
Past simple: upgraded   
Past participle: upgraded   
-ing form: upgrading   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Rate higher; raise in value or esteem

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Hypernyms (to "upgrade" is one way to...):

grade; order; place; range; rank; rate (assign a rank or rating to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Antonym:

downgrade (rate lower; lower in value or esteem)

Sense 2

Meaning:

To improve what was old or outdated

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

The company upgraded their personnel

Hypernyms (to "upgrade" is one way to...):

ameliorate; amend; better; improve; meliorate (to make better)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

upgrade (hardware that provides better performance than an earlier version did)

upgrade (software that provides better performance than an earlier version did)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Give a promotion to or assign to a higher position

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Synonyms:

advance; elevate; kick upstairs; promote; raise; upgrade

Context example:

I got promoted after many years of hard work

Hypernyms (to "upgrade" is one way to...):

assign; delegate; depute; designate (give an assignment to (a person) to a post, or assign a task to (a person))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "upgrade"):

tenure (give life-time employment to)

bring up (promote from a lower position or rank)

spot promote (promote on the spot)

ennoble; entitle; gentle (give a title to someone; make someone a member of the nobility)

favor; favour; prefer (promote over another)

brevet (promote somebody by brevet, in the military)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 4

Meaning:

Get better travel conditions

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

I upgraded to First Class when Coach Class was overbooked

Hypernyms (to "upgrade" is one way to...):

ameliorate; better; improve; meliorate (get better)

Verb group:

upgrade (give better travel conditions to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s

Derivation:

upgrade (a reservation that is improved)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Give better travel conditions to

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

The airline upgraded me when I arrived late and Coach Class was full

Hypernyms (to "upgrade" is one way to...):

ameliorate; amend; better; improve; meliorate (to make better)

Verb group:

upgrade (get better travel conditions)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

upgrade (a reservation that is improved)

 Context examples 

The new moon of December 25 was close to Jupiter too, so you may also be able to give your home décor an upgrade.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

The resource operates, maintains, and upgrades instrumentation for flow cytometric analysis and cell sorting, advises in the design of experiments and contributes consultation in analysis of data.

(Flow Cytometry Shared Resource, NCI Thesaurus)

The rising rate of discovery is due to dedicated NEO surveys and upgraded telescopes coming online in recent years.

(Catalog of Known Near-Earth Asteroids Tops 15,000, NASA)

The Computer Service Shared Resource provides Cancer Center members with the technical support related to computer issues: desktop computer assistance, upgrades, hardware and software related problems, problems maintenance of file/mail/Internet servers, security and backup systems, computer purchase assistance, network topology, operations management, data base administration, Web site development.

(Computer Service Shared Resource, NCI Thesaurus)

You may be ready to buy real estate or sign the work order and write the check for an upgrade to your home.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)