upped

USAGE SUMMARY

The part of the phrase "upped" is correct and usable in written English.
It is typically used in informal contexts to indicate an increase in something, such as intensity, quantity, or level. Example: "After the meeting, we upped our marketing budget to reach more customers."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Formal & Business

Science

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

So far, so Escoffier, but Otto recently upped the ante with an even more ancient lobster press.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

And both the Conservatives and Labour have upped their rhetoric on immigration in a bid to woo back Ukip voters.

The Guardian

The Local Radio Company, home to 26 stations including Sun FM, 2BR and Minster FM, upped its total weekly reach from 851,000 to 900,000 listeners, but its total audience share of 7.4% was down from 8.7% in the same quarter last year.

The Guardian

Labour came third in 2010, when Clegg upped his majority to 15,284 with the Tories a distant second.

The Guardian

The return of Hakan Calhanoglu to his former club had upped the aggro in the stadium and the bad vibes soon affected the players.

The Guardian - Sport

The break in play failed to halt the charge from the ladies in red as they upped the tempo to pull further clear heading into the half-time.At the interval England had moved 31-19 in front.

The Guardian - Sport

On top of that, Farage has upped the English nationalist rhetoric, warning against the "terror" of the Scottish National party and placing a consistent emphasis on standing up for veterans in the face of Conservative weakness on defence spending.

The Guardian

They upped the momentum further in the final term with a rapid three goals in a row that included a beauty from Palmer.

The Guardian - Sport

One of the notable things about Basterds was the way it upped the stakes in comparison with Tarantino's older films.

The Guardian - Film

The stress of knowing that a few mistakes could pop a colleague out of professional existence – has upped the ante to a point where teachers are working brutally long hours.

The Guardian

In essence, the bastards upped the score of everything else just so they could make fruit zero points.

The Guardian - Lifestyle

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "upped" to indicate an increase in effort, amount, or intensity, particularly when a sense of competition or challenge is present. For example: "They upped their marketing budget to compete with the new product launch."

Common error

Avoid using "upped" when a more neutral term like "increased" or "raised" would be more appropriate. "Upped" often implies a deliberate action to surpass a previous level, so ensure this nuance fits the context.

Linguistic Context

Upped primarily functions as the past tense and past participle of the verb 'up'. It indicates that something has been increased, raised, or intensified. Ludwig AI confirms this usage through numerous examples where "upped" signifies an increase in various contexts.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

69%

Formal & Business

15%

Science

16%

Less common in

Academia

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, "upped" is the past tense of the verb "up", commonly used to indicate an increase or intensification. While grammatically correct, its usage is best suited for neutral to informal contexts. Ludwig AI's analysis reveals that "upped" appears frequently in news and media sources, suggesting a broad, accessible tone. For formal academic or scientific writing, alternatives like "increased" or "raised" may be more appropriate. Remember that "upped" often implies a deliberate effort to surpass a previous level, so consider this connotation when choosing the word.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

increased

A general term for making something larger or greater.

raised

Similar to increased, but often implies a vertical movement or elevation.

boosted

Suggests an increase that provides support or encouragement.

enhanced

Implies an improvement in quality or value.

intensified

Indicates a greater degree of strength, force, or feeling.

escalated

Suggests a rapid increase, especially in conflict or danger.

augmented

Formal term indicating an addition or enhancement.

amplified

To increase the volume or intensity of something.

stepped up

Informal term meaning to increase the effort or pace.

expanded

Implies an increase in size, scope, or extent.

FAQs

How can I use "upped" in a sentence?

You can use "upped" to describe increasing something, like "The company "upped its investment" in research and development".

What's a good alternative to the word "upped"?

Depending on the context, you could use alternatives like "increased", "raised", or "boosted" instead of "upped".

Is it correct to say "upped the ante"?

Yes, "upped the ante" is a common idiom that means to increase the stakes or demands in a situation.

Which is better, "upped" or "increased"?

"Upped" is more informal than "increased". Use "increased" in formal or professional contexts, and "upped" in informal settings.