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

Shaul Kuba, co-founder of CIM Group, said he expects being situated on the edge of the upscale Sycamore district will help the apartment building land tenants.

From Los Angeles Times

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

From Los Angeles Times

He found he had a certain kind of customer—someone from Long Island or Jersey, a little more upscale than the working-class tourists his dad used to sell to, a little more downscale than his wife’s real-estate friends in Miami—who loved the most outrageous T-shirts he could print.

From Slate

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

Today a private equity firm — the Stripes Group — owns a minority stake, and the chain is expanding to every upscale neighborhood in Los Angeles.

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