# upload

/ˈəˌpɫoʊd/ (US) · /ˈʌpləʊd/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. to send data to a server

verb · CEFR A2

to send a file, photo, or video from your device to a website or the internet.

For teachers: to transfer data from a local computer system to a remote server or network, typically via the internet.

- It took several minutes to upload the video to my social media page.
- The photographer had to upload the high-resolution files to the client's server before the deadline.

Usage: The verb is both transitive and intransitive; you can 'upload a file' or simply 'wait for the data to upload'.

### 2. the act of sending data

noun · CEFR B1

the process of sending a file to the internet, or the file that you have sent.

For teachers: the action or process of transferring data to a remote system; can also refer to the specific file being transferred.

- My internet speed is fast for watching videos, but the upload is very slow.
- The system administrator monitored the incoming uploads to ensure no malicious scripts were being introduced to the network.

### 3. to move responsibility higher

verb · CEFR C1 · American English · Formal · Technical

to move the responsibility for a service from a local government to a higher one.

For teachers: to transfer jurisdiction or financial responsibility for a public service from a local or municipal level to a provincial or federal level.

- The city wants to upload the cost of the new highway to the national government.
- The provincial government agreed to upload the responsibility for social housing to alleviate the municipal budget deficit.

Teaching tip: This sense is specific to North American political contexts, particularly in Canada, and is the opposite of 'downloading' costs to local levels.

## Examples

- I need to upload my photos to the cloud.
- The student had to upload her final essay to the university portal before the midnight deadline.
- High-resolution video files can take several hours to upload if your internet connection has a limited outbound bandwidth compared to its download speed.

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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.