Collins COBUILD Advanced Learner’s Dictionary

2 VERB [usu passive] If someone is upgraded , their job or status is changed so that they become more important or receive more money. □ [be V -ed + to ] He was upgraded to security guard.

3 VERB If you upgrade or are upgraded , you change something such as your air ticket or your hotel room to one that is more expensive. □ [V ] You can upgrade from self-catering accommodation to a hotel. [Also V n]

up|heav|al /ʌphiː v ^ə l/ (upheavals ) N‑COUNT [usu adj N ] An upheaval is a big change which causes a lot of trouble, confusion, and worry. □  Wherever there is political upheaval, invariably there are refugees. □ [+ in ] Having a baby will mean the greatest upheaval in your life.

up|held /ʌphe ld/ Upheld is the past tense and past participle of uphold .

up|hill /ʌ ph I l/

1 ADV [ADV after v, be ADV ] If something or someone is uphill or is moving uphill , they are near the top of a hill or are going up a slope. □  He had been running uphill a long way. [Also + from ] ● ADJ [usu ADJ n] Uphill is also an adjective. □  …a long, uphill journey. □  The walk from the village to Greystones was uphill all the way.

2 ADJ [ADJ n] If you refer to something as an uphill struggle or an uphill battle, you mean that it requires a great deal of effort and determination, but it should be possible to achieve it. □  It had been an uphill struggle to achieve what she had wanted. □  It's an uphill battle but I think we're going to win.

up|hold /ʌphoʊ ld/ (upholds , upholding , upheld )

1 VERB If you uphold something such as a law, a principle, or a decision, you support and maintain it. □ [V n] Our policy has been to uphold the law. □ [V n] …upholding the artist's right to creative freedom.

2 VERB If a court of law upholds a legal decision that has already been made, it decides that it was the correct decision. □ [V n] The crown court, however, upheld the magistrate's decision.

up|hold|er /ʌphoʊ ldə ^r / (upholders ) N‑COUNT An upholder of a particular tradition or system is someone who believes strongly in it and will support it when it is threatened. [FORMAL ] □ [+ of ] …upholders of the traditional family unit.

up|hol|stered /ʌphoʊ lstə ^r d/ ADJ Upholstered chairs and seats have a soft covering that makes them comfortable to sit on. □ [+ in ] All of their furniture was upholstered in flowery materials.

up|hol|ster|er /ʌphoʊ lstərə ^r / (upholsterers ) N‑COUNT An upholsterer is someone whose job is to make and fit the soft covering on chairs and seats.

up|hol|stery /ʌphoʊ lstəri/ N‑UNCOUNT Upholstery is the soft covering on chairs and seats that makes them more comfortable to sit on. □  …white leather upholstery. □  Simon rested his head against the upholstery.

up|keep /ʌ pkiːp/

1 N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] The upkeep of a building or place is the work of keeping it in good condition. □  The money will be used for the estate's upkeep. □ [+ of ] The maintenance department is responsible for the general upkeep of the park.

2 N‑UNCOUNT [usu with poss] The upkeep of a group of people or services is the process of providing them with the things that they need. □  He offered to pay £100 a month towards his son's upkeep.

up|land /ʌ plənd/ (uplands )

1 ADJ [ADJ n] Upland places are situated on high land. □  …San Marino, the tiny upland republic. □  It's important that these upland farms continue to survive.

2 N‑PLURAL Uplands are areas of high land. □  …a deep valley ringed about by green uplands.