upstage

American  

[uhp-steyj] / ˈʌpˈsteɪdʒ /

adverb

1. on or toward the back of the stage.

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adjective

1. of, relating to, or located at the back of the stage.

2. haughtily aloof; supercilious.

verb (used with object)

upstaged, upstaging

1. to overshadow (another performer) by moving upstage and forcing the performer to turn away from the audience.

2. to outdo professionally, socially, etc.

3. to behave snobbishly toward.

noun

1. the rear half of the stage.

2. any stage position to the rear of another.

upstage British  

/ ˈʌpˈsteɪdʒ /

adverb

1. on, at, or to the rear of the stage

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adjective

1. of or relating to the back half of the stage

2. informal haughty; supercilious; aloof

verb

1. to move upstage of (another actor), thus forcing him to turn away from the audience

2. informal to draw attention to oneself from (someone else); steal the show from (someone)

3. informal to treat haughtily

noun

1. the back half of the stage

Etymology

Origin of upstage

First recorded in 1905–10; up- + stage

Example Sentences

So the third feature, “Now You See Me: Now You Don’t,” brings in three lesser-known younger performers to both upstage their elders and get a little coaching from them.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 13, 2025

On the day of the event, she said, she and her friends weren’t there to provoke Kirk, or to upstage him.

From Slate • Oct. 30, 2025

To upstage the former president, who only recently faced an assassination attempt, is no small feat, said Mr Polyansky.

From BBC • Aug. 10, 2024

“Any time Dennis could upstage Mike, he’d do it,” Jardine tells The Times.

From Los Angeles Times • May 24, 2024

Harold embraced Gerry, making her face upstage, and the curtain came down.

From "A Tree Grows in Brooklyn" by Betty Smith

Related Words

• overshadow