Word
upmarket
Phoneticsup·mar·ket, stress on the first syllable
US/ˈəpˌmɑɹkət/
UK/ˈʌpmɑːkˌɪt/
Definition
adj. describing something expensive and high in quality, made for people with a lot of money. You use this for shops, hotels, clothes, and neighbourhoods.
adj. describing goods, services, or areas aimed at affluent consumers through higher prices and quality. Often contrasted with downmarket.
Examples
“They live in an upmarket part of town.”
“The old market was replaced by upmarket cafes and boutiques that most locals cannot afford.”
“The hotel rebranded itself as an upmarket retreat, trading backpacker dormitories for spa suites and tasting menus that doubled its nightly rates.”
Examples
simple
“They live in an upmarket part of town.”
contextual
“The old market was replaced by upmarket cafes and boutiques that most locals cannot afford.”
complex
“The hotel rebranded itself as an upmarket retreat, trading backpacker dormitories for spa suites and tasting menus that doubled its nightly rates.”
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “upmarket” in context.
Verb
01. become upmarket
“The neighbourhood has become upmarket since the new metro opened.”
verb + adj
02. go upmarket
“The cafe went upmarket and doubled its prices last year.”
verb + adj
03. look upmarket
“This jacket looks upmarket but it was quite cheap.”
verb + adj
Adjective
04. distinctly upmarket
“The boutique has a distinctly upmarket feel with elegant displays.”
adv + adj
05. increasingly upmarket
“The old dock area has become increasingly upmarket in recent years.”
adv + adj
Noun
06. upmarket area
“She moved to an upmarket area on the west side of the city.”
adj + noun
07. upmarket brand
“The company wants to become an upmarket brand for young professionals.”
adj + noun
08. an upmarket brand of clothing
“It is an upmarket brand of clothing popular with executives.”
09. eat at an upmarket restaurant
“They ate at an upmarket restaurant to celebrate graduation.”
10. go increasingly upmarket
“The high street has gone increasingly upmarket over the past decade.”
11. move to an upmarket area
“The family moved to an upmarket area with good schools.”
12. stay in an upmarket hotel
“We stayed in an upmarket hotel near the airport.”
Usage
Typically placed before the noun it modifies.
Real-World Examples
“Luxury goods retailer Burberry, best known for its trench coats and distinctive check pattern, is to close some stores and withdraw from outlets that are not upmarket enough.” “Swiss insurance giant ACE Ltd will buy upmarket property insurer Chubb Corp for $28.3 billion to get access to wealthy clients who pay higher premiums at a time when fierce competition has cut deeply into the industry's profit margins.” “BEIJING, May 20 (Reuters) - Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng (9868.HK), opens new tab launched its new full-size SUV GX on Wednesday, accelerating its push upmarket as the industry shifts from a price war centred on affordable EVs.” Etymology
From up- + market.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Word family
ADJECTIVE
Related words
Domain
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/upmarket