Improvements or enhancements to existing systems, software, or equipment to increase performance or functionality. The act of improving something to a higher standard.
Compound word from 'up' and 'grade', first used in railroad terminology in the 1870s for steep inclines. The modern technological sense emerged in the 1960s with computer development, extending the concept of improvement to digital systems.
The concept of 'upgrades' perfectly captures human nature's eternal dissatisfaction - we're the only species that systematically makes our tools better, which is why your smartphone has more computing power than the entire Apollo mission to the moon!
Complete word intelligence in one call. Free tier — 50 lookups/day.