ascent, acclivity, rise, raise, climb, upgrade: an upward slope or grade (as in a road); "the car couldn't make it up the rise" upgrade: software that provides better performance than an earlier version did upgrade: a reservation that is upgraded; "I got an upgrade to first class when coach class was full" upgrade, rise, rising_slope: the property possessed by a slope or surface that rises upgrade: hardware that provides better performance than an earlier version did upgrade: the act of improving something (especially machinery) by raising it to a higher grade (as by adding or replacing components); "the power plant received a new upgrade" upgrade: rate higher; raise in value or esteem upgrade: to improve, especially something that was old or outdated; "I've upgraded my computer so I can run better software"; "The company upgraded their personnel" promote, upgrade, advance, kick_upstairs, raise, elevate: give a promotion to or assign to a higher position; "John was kicked upstairs when a replacement was hired"; "Women tend not to advance in the major law firms"; "I got promoted after many years of hard work" upgrade: get better travel conditions; "I upgraded to First Class when Coach Class was overbooked" upgrade: give better travel conditions to; "The airline upgraded me when I arrived late and Coach Class was full"