upstart

[ noun adjective uhp-stahrt; verb uhp-stahrt ]

noun

1. a person who has risen suddenly from a humble position to wealth, power, or a position of consequence.
2. a presumptuous and objectionable person who has so risen; parvenu.

adjective

1. being, resembling, or characteristic of an upstart.

verb (used without object)

1. to spring into existence or into view.
2. to start up; spring up, as to one's feet.

verb (used with object)

1. to cause to start up.

upstart

noun

1. 1. a person, group, etc, that has risen suddenly to a position of power or wealth
   2. ( as modifier )

      an upstart family

      an upstart tyrant

2. 1. an arrogant or presumptuous person
   2. ( as modifier )

      his upstart ambition

verb

1. archaic.
   intr to start up, as in surprise, etc

Other Words From

• upstartness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of upstart¹

1275–1325; Middle English (v.); up-, start

Example Sentences

Today we’re parsing its Q4 2020 data, which shows a return to sequential-quarterly growth at the trading upstart.

From TechCrunch

Notably, her show was defeated in the 25-to-54 age demographic — but not in total viewers — by upstart network Newsmax on one night in December, though the feat was not repeated.

From Washington Post

Meanwhile, upstart sexual wellness and feminine brands have also been turning to Walmart as a new sales channel.

From Digiday

An upstart company, Iowa Beef Packers, introduces a product known as “boxed beef,” transforming the meatpacking industry.

From ProPublica

This trading surge, along with the popularity of newer app-based platforms like Robinhood, has created a potential opportunity for upstarts.

From Fortune

AirAsia, on the other hand, is a relatively new carrier, an upstart in the tradition of Southwest Airlines in the United States.

From The Daily Beast

And if Warren seems like an unlikely upstart now, so did Obama at this time eight years ago.

From The Daily Beast

If the upstart wins, the Democrats are in play for the first time in a generation.

From The Daily Beast

The crashing and burning of her last presidential campaign to the unknown, young upstart.

From The Daily Beast

He was the electric young upstart who upended her inevitable path to the White House in Iowa.

From The Daily Beast

And the man who had done all this—a vulgar upstart out of Paris, reeking of leather and the barrack-room still lived!

From Project Gutenberg

"I guess that is straight enough for Guitar to believe, instead of that upstart lieutenant," said Harry.

From Project Gutenberg

The hills of Mount Upstart are of primitive form, and were judged to be composed of granite.

From Project Gutenberg

Bill had been watching, but he had not seen the young upstart from the agency go past, and neither had Bill's faithful clerk.

From Project Gutenberg

Others were derided by their contemporaries, as we deride the made-to-order coat of arms of some nineteenth century upstart.

From Project Gutenberg