Standard Lemma guide

upscale

adj · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • /ˈʌpskeɪl/
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: AH1 P S K EY2 L Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Expensive and designed to appeal to affluent consumers.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: US

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: upmarket, high-class

Antonyms: downscale

2

verb

Meaning 2

To increase in size, to scale up.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

adjective satellite

Meaning 3

appropriate for people with good incomes

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • an upscale neighborhood
  • an upscale motel

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

From up + scale, 1966 (adjective), 1963 (verb).