Word
upped
US/ˈəpt/
UK/ˈʌpt/
Definition
v. to increase the amount, level, or quality of something. You use this when you want to say someone made something bigger or better than it was before.
v. to increase the amount, intensity, or quality of something. Often used in the context of raising stakes, prices, or standards.
Examples
“The company upped the price of its coffee last week.”
“After seeing the competitor's new features, the tech firm upped its research budget to stay ahead.”
“The director upped the tension in the final scene by removing the background music and focusing entirely on the actors' facial expressions.”
Examples
simple
“The company upped the price of its coffee last week.”
contextual
“After seeing the competitor's new features, the tech firm upped its research budget to stay ahead.”
complex
“The director upped the tension in the final scene by removing the background music and focusing entirely on the actors' facial expressions.”
Usage
The verb is transitive and requires a direct object. It is the past tense and past participle form of 'up'.
Pitfall
They upped to the price
They upped the price
When used as a verb meaning to increase, it is transitive and should not be followed by the preposition 'to'.
Real-World Examples
“Chelsea, who were still missing Moisés Caicedo, upped the pace early in the second half.” Scan code
englishreference.com/q/upped