" upgrade "

1: an upward slope;

  * e.g., " ... had to walk our bicycle on the upgrades on our ride through the hills "

•  Synonyms : 

•  acclivity,

•  ascent,

•  hill,

•  rise,

•  uphill,

•  uprise

•  Antonyms : 

•  declension,

•  decline,

•  declivity,

•  descent,

•  dip,

•  downgrade,

•  downhill,

•  drop-off,

•  fall,

•  hang,

•  hanging

2: a raising or a state of being raised to a higher rank or position;

  * e.g., " ... received an upgrade to lieutenant "

•  Synonyms : 

•  advancement,

•  ascent,

•  creation,

•  elevation,

•  preference,

•  preferment,

•  promotion,

•  rise,

•  upgrading

•  Antonyms : 

•  abasement,

•  comedown,

•  degradation,

•  demotion,

•  disrating,

•  downgrade,

•  reduction

3: the degree to which something rises up from a position level with the horizon;

  * e.g., " ... there's a steep upgrade to some of the hills on that route "

•  Synonyms : 

•  cant,

•  diagonal,

•  grade,

•  gradient,

•  inclination,

•  incline,

•  lean,

•  pitch,

•  rake,

•  slant,

•  slope

•  Antonyms : 

• (N/A)

1: to move higher in rank or position;

  * e.g., " ... upgraded them to first class "

•  Synonyms : 

•  advance,

•  elevate,

•  promote,

•  raise

•  Antonyms : 

•  abase,

•  degrade,

•  demote,

•  downgrade,

•  lower,

•  reduce

2: to make better;

  * e.g., " ... that restaurant had better upgrade its service—and fast—if it wants to stay in business "

•  Synonyms : 

•  ameliorate,

•  amend,

•  better,

•  enhance,

•  enrich,

•  help,

•  improve,

•  meliorate,

•  perfect,

•  refine

•  Antonyms : 

•  worsen