trade up
verb
traded up; trading up; trades up
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
The dynamics by category, though, are much less congruent, with the only category to jump double-digits being fragrance in the mass market while consumers in makeup, for example, seem to be trading up.
—
James Manso, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026
There has to be something worth trading up for to get a trade partner.
—Jon MacHota, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
The contracts trade up or down depending on the action.
—Alex Sherman,contessa Brewer, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Hunter’s rookie season raised questions on whether the Jaguars were justified in trading up to select him.
—Juston Lewis, Florida Times-Union, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trade up
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James Manso, Footwear News, 10 Feb. 2026
There has to be something worth trading up for to get a trade partner.
—Jon MacHota, New York Times, 9 Feb. 2026
The contracts trade up or down depending on the action.
—Alex Sherman,contessa Brewer, CNBC, 30 Jan. 2026
Hunter’s rookie season raised questions on whether the Jaguars were justified in trading up to select him.
—Juston Lewis, Florida Times-Union, 15 Jan. 2026
See All Example Sentences for trade up
Cite this Entry
“Trade up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/trade%20up. Accessed 16 Feb. 2026.
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