Upshifting refers to the act of shifting a vehicle's gears up to a higher gear ratio. When looking for synonyms for upshifts, one can consider the options of shifting, changing gears, transitioning, progressing, elevating, or advancing. Each of these alternatives captures the concept of moving from one level to the next and creating momentum. It is important to consider the context in which the word is being used to determine the correct synonym to use. For instance, in sports, one may use the term accelerate instead of upshift to connote gaining speed, while one may use the term upgrade in the context of technology or software.