trade up

verb

traded up; trading up; trades up

intransitive verb

1
: to trade in (something, such as an automobile) for something more expensive or valuable of its kind
2
: to stock or purchase higher-priced items

Examples of trade up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Hong Kong's Hang Seng index traded up 3.48% in its final hour, extending gains from the previous session. Amala Balakrishner, CNBC, 13 Feb. 2025 Kansas City traded up to draft Worthy 28th overall last April but there were questions about how his 165-pound frame would hold up in the more physical NFL. Josh Dubow, Chicago Tribune, 8 Feb. 2025 The Eagles used it to trade up with the Chicago Bears for the ninth overall pick and took defensive tackle Jalen Carter out of Georgia. Greg Rosenstein, NBC News, 4 Feb. 2025 Energy companies had been traded up significantly higher in recent years because of the massive amounts of electricity needed to power AI data centers. David Goldman, CNN, 27 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for trade up 

Word History

First Known Use

1905, in the meaning defined at sense 2

Time Traveler
The first known use of trade up was in 1905

Dictionary Entries Near trade up

Cite this Entry

“Trade up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trade%20up. Accessed 20 Feb. 2025.

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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