upstart

1 of 2

verb

up·​start ˌəp-ˈstärt 

upstarted; upstarting; upstarts

intransitive verb

: to jump up (as to one's feet) suddenly

upstart

2 of 2

noun

up·​start ˈəp-ˌstärt 

1

: one that has risen suddenly (as from a low position to wealth or power) : parvenu

especially : one that claims more personal importance than is warranted

2

: a start-up enterprise

upstart

ˈəp-ˈstärt 

adjective

Synonyms

Noun

• arriviste
• nouveau riche
• parvenu

Examples of upstart in a Sentence

Noun

a young upstart from Harvard who thinks he knows more than the boss

having made their money in oil decades ago, they consider these billionaire dot-commers mere upstarts

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

Picked up by upstart awards powerhouse A24, the film has generated a lot of attention in advance of its limited release on Friday, with special 70mm engagements already happening. —Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 19 Dec. 2024

While an upstart union, the Amazon Labor Union won such a vote at Amazon’s Staten Island facility in April 2022. —Chris Isidore, CNN, 17 Dec. 2024

However Belfield, citing the immense worldwide popularity of the English soccer club Manchester United versus the recent dynastic run of archrival Manchester City, said fans of those upstart teams shouldn’t care who sells more merchandise. —David K. Li, NBC News, 11 Dec. 2024

But Legend couldn’t deliver the finishing blow on Saturday at Canvas Stadium, where the Bruins erased a 10-point halftime deficit in a 13-10 victory over the upstart Titans. —Kyle Newman, The Denver Post, 7 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

upstart

noun

up·​start

ˈəp-ˌstärt

: a person who has risen suddenly (as from a low position to wealth or power)

especially : one who makes a great show of success