upstart

1 of 2

verb

up·​start ˌəp-ˈstärt How to pronounce upstart (audio)
upstarted; upstarting; upstarts

intransitive verb

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

upstart

2 of 2

noun

up·​start ˈəp-ˌstärt How to pronounce upstart (audio)
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 adjective

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
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 

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of upstart was in the 14th century

Dictionary Entries Near upstart

Cite this Entry

“Upstart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upstart. Accessed 21 Dec. 2024.

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

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