# upgrading

/ˈəpˌɡɹeɪdɪŋ/ (US) · /ʌpɡɹˈeɪdɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/upgrading
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. improving a system or device

verb · CEFR B1

improving a piece of equipment or software so that it works better.

For teachers: the present participle of 'upgrade', referring to the act of improving the quality, value, or status of something.

- The company is upgrading its computer systems this weekend to make them faster.
- The IT department is currently upgrading the server infrastructure to ensure the network can handle the increased traffic expected during the holiday season.

### 2. the process of improvement

noun · CEFR B2

the process of making something better or more modern.

For teachers: the action or process of raising something to a higher standard or replacing it with a superior alternative.

- The upgrading of the local park took several months but was worth the wait.
- The continuous upgrading of safety protocols is a mandatory requirement for all chemical processing plants operating within the region.

### 3. travel/service level

verb · CEFR B1

giving someone a better seat or room than the one they paid for.

For teachers: the act of moving a passenger or guest to a higher class of service or better accommodation.

- The airline is upgrading us to business class because the flight is overbooked.
- By upgrading the loyal customers to executive suites, the hotel management successfully mitigated the complaints regarding the initial booking error.

## Examples

- I am upgrading my phone to the newest model today.
- The airline is upgrading all business class seats to include more legroom and better entertainment systems.
- By upgrading the server infrastructure before the product launch, the technical team ensured that the website could handle the anticipated surge in traffic without any significant latency.

---

From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.