upgrade

/ˈʌp.ɡɹeɪd/

//ˈʌp.ɡɹeɪd// noun

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"upgrade" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“upgrade” has 10 generated spelling variants in the English index at frequency #4,811. The variants make it a useful spelling check.

#4,811
frequency rank, English
23,789
“U” headwords
10
tracked misspellings

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed May 6, 2026) - An upward grade or slope.

Key facts for upgrade
PropertyValue
Headwordupgrade
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechNoun
IPA/ˈʌp.ɡɹeɪd/
Letters7
Frequency rank#4,811
Misspellings tracked10
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Where “upgrade” sits in English frequency

Every-word frequency runs from the handful of words we use constantly (left) to the long tail used once in a blue moon (right). upgrade lands here:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Scale is logarithmic (each tick is 10× rarer). Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

A misspelling magnet

The generator records 10 spelling variants around upgrade (IPA /ˈʌp.ɡɹeɪd/), anoun. Corpus frequency is #4,811 among 23,789 “U” headwords. Wiktionary lists 3 senses, so context still picks the gloss.

Our generated misspelling index lists 10 likely wrong-spelling variants for upgrade, with forms such as "pugrade", "ugprade", and "upgarde". Each variant is a distinct typo pattern an edit-distance generator flags, typically a doubled-consonant error, a silent-letter drop, or a vowel substitution. We don't track a confusable pairing for this entry, which tends to mean the word is visually distinctive enough to stand on its own.

Etymologically, the entry records: From up- + grade. The correct English form is upgrade, spelled U-P-G-R-A-D-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    An upward grade or slope.
  2. 2
    An improved component or replacement item, usually applied to technology.
  3. 3
    An improvement.

Etymology

From up- + grade.

This word in other languages

mise à niveau(Français)Upgrade(Deutsch)

Common misspellings

Also misspelled as:

  • pugrade
  • ugprade
  • upgarde
  • upggrade
  • upgradde
  • upgraed
  • upgrdae
  • upgrrade
  • uppgrade
  • uprgade

Misspelling Pattern Breakdown

How far each generated variant is from the correct spelling of upgrade - expressed in single-character edits (insert, delete, or swap one letter). Bigger bars stand out at a glance; a one-edit slip is the hardest to catch.

pugrade2ugprade2upgarde2upggrade1upgradde1upgraed2upgrdae2upgrrade1
Edit distance from "upgrade"

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "upgrade"?
"upgrade" is spelled U-P-G-R-A-D-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈʌp.ɡɹeɪd/.
What does "upgrade" mean?
As a noun, "upgrade" means: An upward grade or slope.
What are common misspellings of "upgrade"?
Common misspellings include "pugrade", "ugprade", "upgarde", "upggrade", "upgradde". The correct spelling is "upgrade".
How do you pronounce "upgrade"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "upgrade" is /ˈʌp.ɡɹeɪd/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "upgrade"?
From up- + grade. See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Using “upgrade”

The practical upshot for anyone who landed here from a spell-check.

  • The one correct English spelling is U-P-G-R-A-D-E - every other letter order is a misspelling in standard orthography.
  • Say it as /ˈʌp.ɡɹeɪd/ (IPA); tap the speaker on the pronunciation badge to hear it where audio exists.
  • Browse more English words and confusable pairs in the same reference. English words

Same frequency band

Data Source

Wiktionary (via kaikki.org), licensed under CC BY-SA & GFDL. Word ordering uses an open word-frequency list; misspelling variants are generated by edit-distance from the correct headword.

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list FrequencyWords open word-frequency list