View synonyms for upscale

upscale

[ adjective uhp-skeyl; verb uhp-skeyl; noun uhp-skeyl ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

adjective

located at, moving toward, or of or for the upper end of a social or economic scale:
The boutique caters to upscale young career people.
luxurious, costly, or elegant.

, up·scaled, up·scal·ing.

to improve the quality, value, or rating of:
a five-year plan to upscale the neighborhood.

, (used with a plural verb)

elegant, elite, privileged persons collectively:
shops that only the upscale can afford to patronize.

upscale

Origin of upscale¹

An Americanism dating back to 1970–75; up- + scale ³

His clothing line that his friend described as “upscale and urban” was a dud.

Residents of an upscale Istanbul neighborhood flocked to their windows this month to watch a neighbor brutally beat his wife.

(A more upscale version, the cabriolet, or “cab,” was later imported from France).

The hotels sound upscale-boutique, rather than mega-glam behemoths.

A few blocks away, dignitaries, including Tony Blair, held court in the upscale Serena Hotel.

April 25, 2024firkin

[fur-kin ]

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