Example Sentences

Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.

Showing an early aptitude for social climbing, Clarence Lapowski changed his name to Dillon days before entering college.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 21, 2025

My father was the first to talk about his superficiality, his social climbing, the importance he placed on getting invited to parties and having celebrities to his house for parties.

From Los Angeles Times • Jun. 7, 2024

“I had little interest in piggybacking or social climbing, but a great interest in the politics of literary greatness in America,” she writes.

From New York Times • Mar. 3, 2023

He would just as fervently applaud a character like David Copperfield for making his way up in the world as condemn Uriah Heep for social climbing.

From The Guardian • Jun. 23, 2020

The rest were there to participate in the great melodrama of social climbing and career advancement.

From "Scythe" by Neal Shusterman