update

1 of 2

verb

up·​date ˌəp-ˈdāt  ˈəp-ˌdāt 

updated; updating; updates

transitive verb

: to bring up to date

updatable adjective

or updateable

ˌəp-ˈdā-tə-bəl 

ˈəp-ˌdā-

updatable software

updater

ˌəp-ˈdā-tər 

ˈəp-ˌdā-

noun

update

2 of 2

noun

up·​date ˈəp-ˌdāt 

1

: an act or instance of updating

2

: current information for updating something

3

: an up-to-date version, account, or report

Synonyms

Verb

• contemporize
• modernize
• streamline

Examples of update in a Sentence

Verb

I need to update my address book.

update all the population figures

She wants to update her wardrobe.

Noun

I haven't heard the latest weather update.

You can download updates for free.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Its dashboard doesn’t separate numbers by state, or break down how many people were monitored through visits with health officials, daily updates via text, or from a single call with a busy farm owner distracted as cows fall sick. —Tribune News Service, The Mercury News, 29 Oct. 2024

Correction: This story has been updated to correct the size of HSBC’s share buyback in one instance. —Anniek Bao, CNBC, 29 Oct. 2024

Noun

That was the same message reiterated Tuesday night during a status update from Perkins Eastman, the consulting firm MPS hired this spring to help create a long-range facilities master plan. —Cleo Krejci, Journal Sentinel, 31 Oct. 2024

Leaders should energize the organization around this change with a clear vision, supported by consistent communication, updates and messaging. —Graham Peelle, Forbes, 30 Oct. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1941, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1961, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

update

1 of 2 verb

up·​date ˌəp-ˈdāt 

: to bring up to date

update

2 of 2 noun

up·​date ˈəp-ˌdāt 

1

: an act or instance of updating

2

: an up-to-date version, account, or information