upscale

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

adjective

1. 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.

2. luxurious, costly, or elegant.

verb (used with object)

, up·scaled, up·scal·ing.

1. to improve the quality, value, or rating of:

   a five-year plan to upscale the neighborhood.

noun

, (used with a plural verb)

1. elegant, elite, privileged persons collectively:

   shops that only the upscale can afford to patronize.

upscale

adjective

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

verb

1. tr to increase the scale of

Word History and Origins

Origin of upscale¹

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

Example Sentences

The building is close to other amenities including restaurants, an upscale athletic club, hotels and stores.

From Los Angeles Times

And then came the rise of Erewhon, an upscale health food market that derives its name from the anagramic spelling of the word nowhere.

From Los Angeles Times

For dessert, the chocolate and banana dish brings nostalgic memories of banana bread, with an upscale twist.

From Salon

Towering over them was an upscale, new, and completely empty apartment building.

From BBC

Newport Beach grabbed national headlines this summer after a New Zealand tourist was killed in a violent robbery at Fashion Island — one of Orange County’s most upscale malls.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• comfortable
• deluxe
• expensive
• extravagant
• fancy
• gorgeous
• grand
• imposing
• lavish
• lush
• opulent
• ostentatious
• palatial
• plush
• posh
• ritzy
• splendid
• stately
• sumptuous