Dictionary

upshift en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English upshiften, upschyften (“to raise”), equivalent to up- + shift.

Meanings

1. A shift to a higher gear.
   • For example, the vehicle starts off in second gear or an upshift takes place at lower engine speeds. 1999, Kurt Neuffer, Kurt Engelsdorf, “Transmission Control”, in Ronald K. Jurgen, editor, Automotive Electronics Handbook, page 323:
2. A shift to a higher level, such as of frequency, growth, economic level, etc.

Forms

Antonyms

downshift · downshift

Hypernyms

change · gear change · shift

Relateds

drive stick · stickshift

upshift en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio

Etymology

From Middle English upshiften, upschyften (“to raise”), equivalent to up- + shift.

Meanings

1. To shift to a higher gear.
   • You can upshift to second gear once the car is moving.
2. (transitive) To shift to a higher level, such as of frequency, growth rate, economic level, etc.
   • Collectively, we need to “up-shift” our thinking—we need a new mindset. 2014, Lyn Sharratt, Gale Harild, Good to Great to Innovate:
   • That's how you upshift a conversation so you can navigate the great political divide in a way that insights, not incites. 2010, Meryl Runion, How To Restore Sanity To Our Political Conversations, page 113:
   • Irritation will also occur if you or your family have never had, and will never have, a chance to 'upshift'. 2016, Amal Treacher Kabesh, Postcolonial Masculinities, page 73:
   • The frequency of the light is upshifted.

Forms

Antonyms

downshift · downshift

Deriveds

upshifter

Hypernyms

shift gears · shift gears

Translations (6)

cmn 升擋 /升挡 (shift to a higher gear) · yue 上波 (shift to a higher gear) · fi vaihtaa suuremmalle vaihteelle (shift to a higher gear) · pl przechodzić na wyższy bieg (shift to a higher gear) · ga ardaigh giar (shift to a higher gear) · pl przejść na wyższy bieg (shift to a higher gear)