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
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
Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 5 Dec. 2024
The fancy new facelift is the result of a partnership with the Craft Irish Whiskey Company—a four-year-old upstart that has exploded upon the ultra-luxe spirits scene, compiling more top industry accolades more rapidly than any other brand in the modern era.
—Brad Japhe, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
In 2024, musicians such as Charli xcx improbably topped worldwide charts with a cheeky remix album, and U.K. upstart Fred again.. sold nearly 78,000 tickets for a stadium show in Los Angeles.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 28 Nov. 2024
The New York Jets’ roots as a brash and unapologetic upstart, cemented by Joe Namath’s Super Bowl III bravado, differentiated them from the old-guard New York Giants for decades.
—Mike Sando, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for upstart 
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Noun
Daniel Nigro knew there was something special about Chappell Roan, a young upstart who had just moved to Los Angeles from Missouri, during their first meeting in 2018.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 5 Dec. 2024
The fancy new facelift is the result of a partnership with the Craft Irish Whiskey Company—a four-year-old upstart that has exploded upon the ultra-luxe spirits scene, compiling more top industry accolades more rapidly than any other brand in the modern era.
—Brad Japhe, Forbes, 2 Dec. 2024
In 2024, musicians such as Charli xcx improbably topped worldwide charts with a cheeky remix album, and U.K. upstart Fred again.. sold nearly 78,000 tickets for a stadium show in Los Angeles.
—Jonathan Cohen, SPIN, 28 Nov. 2024
The New York Jets’ roots as a brash and unapologetic upstart, cemented by Joe Namath’s Super Bowl III bravado, differentiated them from the old-guard New York Giants for decades.
—Mike Sando, The Athletic, 25 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for upstart
Dictionary Entries Near upstart
Cite this Entry
“Upstart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upstart. Accessed 17 Dec. 2024.
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