What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
improvement
Example
The company made significant improvements to their customer service department. [improvements: noun]
Example
She worked hard to show improvement in her grades. [improvement: noun]
upgrade
Example
I need to upgrade my phone to get the latest features. [upgrade: verb]
Example
The company released an upgraded version of their software with improved functionality. [upgraded: adjective]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Improvement is more commonly used than upgrade in everyday language. Improvement is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while upgrade is more specific and often used in the context of technology or systems.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between improvement and upgrade?
Both improvement and upgrade can be used in both formal and informal contexts, but upgrade may be more commonly used in technical or professional settings due to its association with technology and systems.