# upped

/ˈəpt/ (US) · /ˈʌpt/ (UK) · CEFR B2 · Verb

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/upped
Updated: 2026-05-09

## Definition

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.

For teachers: 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.

## Pitfalls

- Not "They upped to the price" but "They upped the price" — When used as a verb meaning to increase, it is transitive and should not be followed by the preposition 'to'.

## Usage notes

- The verb is transitive and requires a direct object. It is the past tense and past participle form of 'up'.

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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.