Meaning & use
an upgrade
Last updated
Meanings
phrasecountable
A newer or better version of something, such as a seat, room, or device, often given or bought as an improvement.
Grammar: Use 'an' before a vowel sound; the noun is countable, so you can say 'an upgrade' or 'two upgrades'.
Patterns
- an upgrade to something
- get an upgrade
- offer someone an upgrade
The airline gave us an upgrade to business class.
I need an upgrade for my old laptop.
phrasecountable
An improvement in status, quality, or performance.
Grammar: Often followed by 'in' or 'to': an upgrade in service, an upgrade to the system.
Patterns
- an upgrade in something
- an upgrade to something
The new software is an upgrade in speed and security.
Moving to a bigger office felt like an upgrade.
Word forms
| plural | upgrades |
|---|
Common combinations
- free upgrade
- We got a free upgrade at the hotel.
- software upgrade
- The software upgrade fixed several bugs.
- upgrade path
- There is no upgrade path from the old version.
Synonyms and how they differ
- improvement
- More general; an upgrade usually means a move to a higher or newer version, while improvement can be any change for the better.
- enhancement
- Often used for added features or quality, not for replacing something with a better model.
Opposites
Word family
- upgrade verb
- To improve or replace something with a better version.
Commonly confused: an upgrade or update?
an upgrade vs update
An update adds the latest information or fixes; an upgrade makes something better or more advanced.
Practice
Choose the correct sentence.
Choose one answer.
'An' is used before a vowel sound, and 'upgrade to' is the usual pattern for a better class or version.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “an upgrade”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.