UPGRADING Synonyms: 148 Similar and Opposite Words

upgrading 1 of 2

noun

as in promotion

a raising or a state of being raised to a higher rank or position she was surprised by the unannounced upgrading to the position of supervisor

Synonyms & Similar Words

Relevance

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

upgrading

2 of 2

verb

present participle of upgrade

as in promoting

to move higher in rank or position upgraded them to first class

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

as in improving

to make better that restaurant had better upgrade its service—and fast—if it wants to stay in business

Synonyms & Similar Words

Antonyms & Near Antonyms

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Recent Examples of upgrading

Noun

Wall Street is also coming around, with Bank of America double upgrading Salesforce to buy from sell last week. — Natasha Abellard, CNBC, 21 Oct. 2026 In the third quarter, revenues in this channel were up 2 percent at constant exchange, despite the streamlining and upgrading of this distribution. — Luisa Zargani, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2026 Still, that’s a lot of hours in the air, making upgrading to business class all the more enticing. — Stacey Leasca, Travel + Leisure, 12 Oct. 2026 Between ultrafast charging, game-changing AI camera tricks, and pocket-sized foldable screens that open into mini tablets, these deals will make upgrading feel like a genuine leap forward. — Juhi Wadia, PC Magazine, 30 Sep. 2026 These changes should be combined with a broader upgrading of Taiwan’s armed forces’ network of sensors, communications tools, drones, and missiles. — Holmes Liao, Foreign Affairs, 4 Sep. 2026 Being aggressive upgrading the backup quarterback spot sets a standard, one Dolphins’ fans should hope pushes the franchise forward. — Omar Kelly august 30, Miami Herald, 30 Aug. 2026 For all the talk of upgrading, Rogers and Vinicius Jr have eluded them, and the list of plausible upgrades is dwindling. — James McNicholas, New York Times, 19 Aug. 2026 Passengers on all of Air New Zealand’s long-haul routes operated by its Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners and 777 jets have the option of upgrading to its premium economy cabin. — Jessica Puckett, Condé Nast Traveler, 1 Aug. 2026

Verb

This product will likely be positioned for folks just getting into Apple’s pro-grade laptops or for someone upgrading from further back in the MacBook Pro lineup (from the M3 model or older). — Joe Osborne, PC Magazine, 26 Oct. 2026 Colman Domingo is another notable figure who takes suiting seriously, upgrading the classic silhouette with his own touches to create something uniquely him. — Amina Ayoud, Footwear News, 24 Oct. 2026 Ninety-four percent of Americans recognize that repairing and upgrading transportation infrastructure helps these types of vehicles move people and goods more quickly and safely. — Kevin Blackwell, Charlotte Observer, 21 Oct. 2026 South Korean giants Samsung and SK Hynix are reportedly upgrading their production facilities in China to make more advanced memory chips to meet the Asian giant’s growing appetite. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 21 Oct. 2026 That's a pretty important detail if the smarter assistant is your main reason for upgrading. — Kurt Knutsson, FOXNews.com, 15 Oct. 2026 The pocket-size converter and amplifier snaps onto the back of your device via MagSafe magnet, upgrading the audio quality coming out of connected headphones or speakers without downgrading user experience. — Eliza Thompson, Time, 15 Oct. 2026 But since the start of the war, Turkey, Romania, and Bulgaria have continued upgrading their navies while forging closer cooperation on maritime security, according to Carnegie. — Jeremy Hsu, ArsTechnica, 15 Oct. 2026 So, the next time you’re tempted to toss an inexpensive pack of socks into your cart, consider upgrading your everyday essentials instead. — Katie Decker-Jacoby, StyleCaster, 13 Oct. 2026

Recent Examples of Synonyms for upgrading

Noun

The race will be branded the Formula 1 African Grand Prix, presented by Visit Rwanda, the country’s tourism-promotion brand.

— Nimi Princewill, CNN Money, 22 Oct. 2026
Since retaking the pitch in 2018-19, Belenenses has clawed its way back to relevance, winning five consecutive promotions.

— Justin Birnbaum, Sportico.com, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of promotion

Verb

The performance of hydrocarbons must be considered as part of a wider system that is simultaneously scaling clean electricity input and improving efficiency across the value chain.

— H.E. Dr Abdulla Saif Al Jarwan, Fortune, 21 Oct. 2026
Voters in DeKalb County will decide whether to renew a special one-cent sales tax that goes toward improving schools.

— Emily McLeod, CBS News, 21 Oct. 2026

Definition of improving

Verb

Second, the massive capital requirements associated with artificial intelligence infrastructure buildouts have intensified competition for market liquidity, leading investors to demand higher yields and further elevating corporate financing costs.

— , CNBC, 22 Oct. 2026
The Timberland Field Boot in Brown Full-grain/Camo features a Gore-Tex membrane, elevating the typical waterproof construction of the Field Boot with an even more protective liner that’s also breathable.

— Riley Jones, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of elevating

Verb

The finishing touch should be a shine-enhancing hair gloss to blend the blonde tones seamlessly into the brunette strands.

— Jacqueline Kilikita, Vogue, 22 Oct. 2026
The initiative was part of the retailer’s aim to support new talents and its increasing focus on enhancing its brand awareness globally.

— Sandra Salibian, Footwear News, 22 Oct. 2026

Definition of enhancing

Browse Nearby Words

upgrades

upgrading

upheaval

See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

Style

“Upgrading.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/upgrading. Accessed 27 Oct. 2026.

Copy Citation

Synonyms of upgrading

noun

verb

Example Sentences

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

More from Merriam-Webster

Word of the Day

milieu

Popular in Grammar & Usage

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

Merriam-Webster’s Great Big List of Words You Love to Hate

'Affect' vs. 'Effect'

'A' or 'an'? What about before 'h'? An Indefinite Article Guide

Why is '-ed' sometimes pronounced at the end of a word?

Popular in Wordplay

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

12 Lovely and Unusual Words for the Natural World

Why do we 'bury the lede?'

'Za' and 9 Other Words to Help You Win at SCRABBLE

Popular

How to Use 'Who' vs. 'Whom'

The Longest Long Words List

9 Words That Sound Like Insults But Aren't

Games & Quizzes