upgrade
upgrade — verb
1. to replace a computer, phone, software program, or other device with a newer one
to replace a computer, phone, software program, or other device with a newer one that works better, or to add things to it so that it does more than before.
Trang decided to upgrade her phone after the battery stopped lasting through the day.
transitive: upgrade + object (phone)
The school upgraded its computer lab with faster machines and new software.
Ignacio upgraded the memory in his laptop so it could handle video editing.
Feng upgraded to the paid version of the app to unlock all its features.
Our company is upgrading the whole network to improve security and speed.
- downgrade
to move to a less powerful or lower-quality version
文法句型
upgrade + noun phrase
upgrade to + noun phrase
用法筆記
A person can upgrade their own device (transitive) or upgrade to a new version without naming the thing replaced (intransitive with 'to').
常見錯誤
2. to give a person a better version of something they already have, for example a
to give a person a better version of something they already have, for example a more comfortable seat on an airplane or a larger hotel room, often at no extra charge.
The airline upgraded Christopher to business class after overselling economy seats.
upgrade + person + to + noun phrase
Nala asked the hotel to upgrade her room to one with a sea view.
Passengers on the delayed train were upgraded to first-class seats free of charge.
Antonia's ticket was upgraded at the gate, so she boarded among the first group.
- promote
overlaps in travel contexts ('promoted to first class') but more common for jobs
- downgrade
to give someone a worse seat, room, or service than they paid for
文法句型
upgrade + person + to + noun phrase
用法筆記
Frequently used in passive voice ('was upgraded') or as a customer service term. The person receiving the upgrade is usually the direct object.
常見錯誤
3. to move someone to a job that has a higher rank or more responsibility than thei
to move someone to a job that has a higher rank or more responsibility than their current position within an organisation.
After three years of hard work, Dahlia was upgraded to senior manager.
passive: upgraded to [job title]
The company upgraded Yael from assistant to team leader after her project succeeded.
Arjun was upgraded to a regional director role after leading the sales team.
Élise hopes to be upgraded to a higher position within the next year.
- demote
to move someone to a lower rank or position
文法句型
upgrade + person + to + noun phrase
用法筆記
Less formal than 'promote'. Common in workplace conversation but less frequent in official HR documents. Usually used with 'to' followed by the new job title.
常見錯誤
upgrade — noun
1. a new version of a software program or an additional piece of equipment that mak
a new version of a software program or an additional piece of equipment that makes a device perform better or have more features than the previous version.
The latest software upgrade fixed several security problems and added new tools.
software upgrade — common compound
Yara bought a memory upgrade so her computer could run more programs at once.
Installing the upgrade took only a few minutes and required no restart.
The graphics card upgrade made a huge difference in how the game looked.
This upgrade costs fifty dollars but offers twice the storage space.
- update
smaller in scope; an update fixes issues while an upgrade adds features or improves performance
用法筆記
Can be both countable ('a new upgrade') and uncountable ('needs more upgrade'). In technology, 'upgrade' often refers specifically to a software release or hardware component swap.
常見錯誤
2. a situation in which a customer receives something better than what they origina
a situation in which a customer receives something better than what they originally paid for — for example, a more spacious seat during a flight or a larger room than the one booked at a hotel.
The upgrade to first class came with complimentary meals and extra legroom.
upgrade to + class of service
Trang received a free room upgrade when she arrived at the hotel late at night.
Ishaan was surprised by the upgrade to a luxury suite at no additional cost.
The airline is offering a paid upgrade to premium economy for just forty dollars.
- downgrade
when a customer receives worse service than expected
用法筆記
Common in travel and hospitality contexts. 'Free upgrade' implies the customer did not pay extra; 'paid upgrade' means they chose to pay for a better service.