upscale

[ adjective uhp-skeyl; verb uhp-skeyl; noun uhp-skeyl ]
/ adjective ˈʌpˈskeɪl; verb ʌpˈskeɪl; noun ˈʌpˌskeɪl /
Informal.

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.

verb (used with object), up·scaled, up·scal·ing.

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

noun

(used with a plural verb) elegant, elite, privileged persons collectively (usually preceded by the): shops that only the upscale can afford to patronize.

Origin of upscale

An Americanism dating back to 1970–75; up- + scale3

Example sentences from the Web for upscale

British Dictionary definitions for upscale

upscale
/ informal /

adjective (ˈʌpˈskeɪl)

of or for the upper end of an economic or social scale; up-market

verb (ˈʌpˌskeɪl)

(tr) to increase the scale of