upgrade

Etymology

up- + grade

noun

1. An upward grade or slope.
   The Worthens sighed with relief as the engine began its night of upgrade chugging. 1931, Journal of the Outdoor Life, volume 28, page 303
2. An improved component or replacement item, usually applied to technology
   With my phone company, I get a free upgrade every twelve months if I keep topping up 10 pounds a month.
3. An improvement
   The remarried couples among my friends often joked that their divorce and remarriage amounted to an upgrade.
   "When we're finished in 2024, this upgrade programme will provide a much-improved railway between London Waterloo and Portsmouth," said NR's Wessex Route Director Mark Killick. January 12 2022, “Network News: Portsmouth line upgrade set to begin”, in RAIL, number 948, page 12

verb

1. (transitive) To improve, usually applied to technology, generally by complete replacement of one or more components
   When you upgrade your standard of living, you become addicted to that standard of living.
2. (transitive) To replace with something better.
   I had to upgrade my anti-virus software to protect my computer from the newer threats.
3. (transitive) To improve the equipment or furnishings of or services rendered to
   They upgraded him to the latest model.
   They were upgraded to first class.
   From the builder's standpoint, the name of the game is to upgrade you to the maximum you can qualify for. 2014, Sid Davis, A Survival Guide for Buying a Home - Page 80
   Calls at Cardiff Parkway are proposed once this station opens, with investment promised to upgrade station facilities at Severn Tunnel Junction. 2019 October, “South Wales open access bid”, in Modern Railways, page 15
   Several level crossings would have to be upgraded, with the existing track re-laid to allow a line speed of 60mph. December 14 2022, “Network News: Fawley branch line reopening supported by 80% of locals”, in RAIL, number 972, page 20
4. (intransitive) To improve in condition or status.
   She upgraded to a more successful husband.
5. (intransitive, computing) To replace a program with a later version of itself, a version having a higher version number or marketed under a more recent product name.

adv

1. Up a slope or grade.
   Men fell out, worn-out, and there were sunstroke cases. It was an eight-mile march upgrade. 1955, Carl Sandburg, Prairie-town boy, page 173
   Northbound trains originating near the Ohio River faced a 26-mile climb upgrade to Flushing. 2009, Craig Sanders, Canton Area Railroads, page 66
   From there it was an eight-mile pull upgrade to the mountain top. 2010, Elliott Merrick, True North: A Journey Into Unexplored Wilderness, page 167
   I did that and saw we had to go upgrade a long ways. 2013, Marty Metras, Walking the Walk, Camino de Santiago 2012, page 16
   … 37905 hauls the 1,400-tonne 0730 Mossend-Margam upgrade from Shrewsbury, mainly at 1-in-100, through Church Stretton at around 25mph on May 13 1989. December 16 2020, David Clough, “Class 37s at 60: the great survivors”, in Rail, page 55, photo caption