Oxford Business English Dictionary for Learners of English

(HR) [+ obj] to give sb a more important job; to make a job more important: He's been upgraded to Head of Sales. [synJ promote

[+ obj or no obj] to give sb a better seat on a plane, room in a hotel, etc. than the one that they have paid for: We were upgraded to business class.

[+ obj] to improve the condition of a building, etc. in order to provide a better service: The factory has been upgraded to meet current safety standards.

upgrade /'upgreid/ noun [C]: instructions for installing an upgrade to the existing system о credit rating upgrades о Frequent flyers qualify for a free upgrade, upgrading /.Ap'greidiq/ noun [u,C]: the upgrading of the firm's PCs downgrade

upkeep /'Apki:p/ noun [U] the cost or process of keeping sth in good condition: the upkeep of a building/road

isynl maintenance keep sth up at keep

uplift noun, verb

noun /'Apllft/ [C]

(especially in newspapers) the fact of sth being raised or of sth increasing: Figures out today show a 10% uplift in premiums from retail investment, о a sales uplift of 18% over the year

verb I,Ap'lift/ [+ obj] (especially BrE) (formal)

to collect passengers, luggage or goods: Coaches may only set down or uplift passengers at these locations.

^upload verb, noun (IV)

verb /.Ap'laud; AmE -'loud/ [+ obj or no obj]

to move data to a larger computer system from a smaller one; to be moved in this way: You can upload an image directly from a digital camera. IoppI download

noun /'Aplaud; AmE -loud/

[U,C] the act or process of copying data from a smaller system to a larger one: You can make future uploads easier if you tick the 'Save Password' box.

[C] data copied from a smaller system to a larger one: access other users' uploads

upmarket /,Ap'ma:kit; AmE-'ma:rk-/ (AmEalso 'upscale) adjective [usually before noun]

designed for or used by people who belong to a high social class; expensive and of good quality: a maker of upmarket food products

О an upmarket brand/hotel/product/restaurant/ store

used to describe people who have more money and can afford expensive products and services: upmarket customers о an upmarket neighbourhood

upmarket adverb: The company has been forced to move more upmarket.

foppl downmarket

upscale /'Apskeil/ = upmarket upseHing 590

upsetting /4pselir)/ noun [u] [Marketing) the technique of persuading customers to buy more products or a more expensive product than they originally intended ► 'upsell verb [no obj]

'upset price = reserve price

upside /'Apsaid/ noun

(Economics; Finance) [sing; u] the possibility that sth will increase in price or value: The shares have upside if the company focuses on increasing its customers in new markets, о The plan involves high risks but also high upside potential (= opportunity for making high profits).

(Finance) [sing; u] an increase in profits or share prices: The deal should offer a 50% upside for shareholders.

[sing.] the more positive aspect of a situation that is generally bad: On the upside, this model does use less fuel than its competitors.

[opp] downside

upsize /'Apsaiz/ verb [+ obj or no obj]

(IT) to move from a smaller computer system to a larger one: There are good reasons to upsize to a larger system-, о an upsized database

(HR) to increase the size of a company by employing more people: 28% of plants upsized and became more productive.

upsizing noun [u]: the upsizing of databases -> downsize

upskill/'Apskil/ verb (HR)

[+ obj or no obj] to teach sb new skills; to learn new skills: The company has invested heavily in upskilling its workforce, о a course for salespeople wanting to upskill in database management

[no obj] to change a job so that it needs more skills to do it: upskilled tasks/jobs

upskilling noun [u]: the upskilling of the staff