upgear
verbEtymology From up- + gear.
1
Automotive, Transport, Vehicles Ambitransitive To shift to a higher gear
- The air-cooled two-cylinder engine is less obtrusive than one might expect, thanks to vacuum control which automatically upgears the car and holds down the speed of the 746-cc engine.1961, Car & Driver, volume 7, page 91:
2
Broadly To shift to a higher level or standard; upgrade
- Cam will help but you'd need to upgear a tire size to capitalize on it.1981, Popular Science, volume 219, number 5, page 66:
3
Figuratively To move to an elevated level of activity, performance, or intensity
- The vicious cycle of repression was upgeared and intensified.1987, Jasawanta Siṅgha Kam̆wala, The Other Zafarnamah:
- She says it clearly, carefully and very deliberately, recalling a time when their gigs are already upgearing to concerts and benefits organised by Bill Graham, for whom Airplane become regulars of the Fillmore […]2001, Andrew Darlington, I was Elvis Presley's Bastard Love-child:
- Related terms
- gear up