Upvaluing

Part of speech: verb

Definitions

1. The act of improving the assessment of worth or importance placed on an item or idea
2. The process of elevating the perceived significance or value assigned to a concept or object
3. The action of assigning greater importance or monetary worth to something than it previously had

Etymology: "Upvaluing" is the present participle and gerund of "upvalue," a verb built from the familiar English words "up" and "value." Its history is plain: the prefix "up" combines with the existing noun "value," which came into English from Old French, and the pairing makes a new verb meaning to raise the worth assigned to something. Unlike many long-established words, it is a transparent compound, so its meaning can be read directly from its parts. The same construction appears in other English verbs where "up" signals an increase, such as "upgrade" and "upscale." Speakers form these combinations freely when they need a compact way to describe a rise in some measure, and "upvalue" follows that pattern, applying it to the worth or importance of an item or idea.

Synonyms: valuing, appraising

Antonyms: devaluing