upstart

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

/ noun, adjective ˈʌpˌstɑrt; verb ʌpˈstɑrt /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR upstart ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a person who has risen suddenly from a humble position to wealth, power, or a position of consequence.

a presumptuous and objectionable person who has so risen; parvenu.

adjective

being, resembling, or characteristic of an upstart.

verb (used without object)

to spring into existence or into view.

to start up; spring up, as to one's feet.

verb (used with object)

to cause to start up.

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THESE WORDS FROM "LITTLE WOMEN"

"Little Women" may be a classic, but that doesn't mean we all know the meanings of the vocab words from the book. Can you define these words correctly and make Jo proud?

Question 1 of 10

earnest

full seriousness, as of intention or purpose.

a feeling of dread, anxiety, or anguish.

urgent character; imperativeness; insistence; importunateness.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of upstart

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

OTHER WORDS FROM upstart

up·start·ness, noun

Words nearby upstart

upspin, upspring, upstage, upstairs, upstanding, upstart, upstate, upstream, upstretched, upstroke, upsurge

Example sentences from the Web for upstart

AirAsia, on the other hand, is a relatively new carrier, an upstart in the tradition of Southwest Airlines in the United States.
The Presumed Crash of AirAsia Flight QZ8501 Is Nothing Like MH370|Lennox Samuels|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If the upstart wins, the Democrats are in play for the first time in a generation.
Travis Childers: The Deep South’s Great Liberal Hope|Ben Jacobs|June 5, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The staid old NFL soon faced competition from the upstart AFL, which, of course, put a team in New York.
New York City Is the Storied Football Capital of the USA|Ben Jacobs|January 26, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Stewart was disdainful of the upstart network, and in the final meeting to sign the contract, would not even look at Ober.
Food Fight! The Seven Biggest Rivalries Inside the Food Network|Thomas Flynn|September 26, 2013|DAILY BEAST

Six months later, the upstart decided he was ready to strike out on his own.
Is Tech Upstart Cullen Dudas the Next Steve Jobs?|Winston Ross|January 10, 2013|DAILY BEAST
Mushrooms, instead of strawberry-leaves, should decorate the brows of the upstart French nobility.
Burlesques|William Makepeace Thackeray
He has not long been in practice, and we look upon him as an upstart.
The Story of Charles Strange Vol. 1 (of 3)|Mrs. Henry Wood
I will let the upstart know, said she, how easily the hand that has exalted him can beat him down.
In the Days of Queen Elizabeth|Eva March Tappan
But were there no other motive to induce me to despise the upstart man, is not this unjust one to his family enough?
Clarissa, Volume 1 (of 9)|Samuel Richardson
But I will say my say, and have done with it; and you may think me an upstart meddler, if you like.
The Remarkable History of Sir Thomas Upmore, bart., M.P., formerly known as "Tommy Upmore"|R. D. Blackmore

British Dictionary definitions for upstart

upstart

noun (ˈʌpˌstɑːt)

a person, group, etc, that has risen suddenly to a position of power or wealth
(as modifier)an upstart tyrant; an upstart family

an arrogant or presumptuous person
(as modifier)his upstart ambition

verb (ʌpˈstɑːt)

(intr) archaic to start up, as in surprise, etc

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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upstart

noun

adjective

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THESE WORDS FROM "LITTLE WOMEN"

Origin of upstart

OTHER WORDS FROM upstart

Words nearby upstart

Example sentences from the Web for upstart

British Dictionary definitions for upstart

noun (ˈʌpˌstɑːt)

verb (ʌpˈstɑːt)

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

upstart

noun

adjective

verb (used without object)

verb (used with object)

QUIZZES

CHALLENGE YOURSELF WITH THESE WORDS FROM "LITTLE WOMEN"

Origin of upstart

OTHER WORDS FROM upstart

Words nearby upstart

Words related to upstart

Example sentences from the Web for upstart

British Dictionary definitions for upstart

noun (ˈʌpˌstɑːt)

verb (ʌpˈstɑːt)