Upscale

Part of speech: adjective, verb

Pronunciation: /ˈʌpskeɪl/

Definitions

1. Characterized by high quality, luxury, or appeal to wealthy clientele; catering to or associated with affluent consumers
2. Relating to products, services, or environments that prioritize luxury and high quality intended for an affluent audience
3. Associated with premium quality and luxury items or services that target a wealthy demographic

Etymology: "Upscale" is a plain compound of "up" and "scale," and its history is recent. The verb appeared first, in 1963, meaning to raise something to a higher level, and the adjective followed in 1966. Both come from the notion of moving something up a scale, as in climbing a ladder of quality or price. The adjective is the sense most people know: a store, neighbourhood or restaurant aimed at wealthier customers. The image is of a market or product sitting higher on a scale of cost and refinement than its ordinary competitors, so an "upscale" hotel is one that has been placed above the usual rank. The word is a useful example of how English builds new terms from familiar parts, with "up" supplying the direction and "scale" supplying the idea of graded levels.

Synonyms: luxurious, high-end, exclusive

Antonyms: downscale, inferior