upstart

American  

[uhp-stahrt, uhp-stahrt] / ˈʌpˌstɑrt, ʌpˈstɑrt /

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.

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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 British  

noun

1. 1. a person, group, etc, that has risen suddenly to a position of power or wealth

   2. ( as modifier )

      an upstart tyrant

      an upstart family

2. 1. an arrogant or presumptuous person

   2. ( as modifier )

      his upstart ambition

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verb

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

Other Word Forms

• upstartness
  noun

Etymology

Origin of upstart

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

Explanation

An upstart is someone who's cocky and arrogant, and who doesn't show much respect for other people. There are many ways of starting up trouble — one is by being an upstart. Upstarts are people who are full of themselves and dismissive of others. Often, an upstart is a young person or newcomer. A new employee who acts like he knows more than everyone else is an upstart. An arrogant rookie on a sports team is an upstart. In the 1500s, upstart and start-up were both used to mean the same thing, "one newly risen in importance."

Example Sentences

Steyer’s campaign says doing so would enable the upstart factory home industry to make capital investments that it can use to expand its presence in the larger, private market.

From Los Angeles Times • May 1, 2026

More than 30 years later, Becerra, 68, is again an upstart candidate — this time for California governor.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 27, 2026

And Microsoft’s huge sales force and existing base of millions of customers gives it commercial leverage that upstart AI developers could only dream of.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 23, 2026

The upstart party flipped certain districts that had gone to Fidesz in every election since Orbán returned to power in 2010 after an eight-year spell in opposition.

From Barron's • Apr. 12, 2026

One of the older mice, Sister Clemence, chided Matthias as an upstart.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques