one-up

1 of 2

verb

ˌwən-ˈəp How to pronounce one-up (audio)
ˈwən-
one-upped; one-upping; one-ups
Synonyms of one-upnext

transitive verb

: to practice one-upmanship on
always trying to one-up each other by buying the latest gadgets

one up

2 of 2

adjective

: being in a position of advantage
—usually used with on
He finished his assignment early, which put him one up on me.

Examples of one-up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
This also is a chance for Chicago to one-up New York, which, despite rebuilding its airports, has no such direct train at any of the three airports controlled by the Port Authority of New York and New Jersey. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 25 Aug. 2026 The Fan, the season-long unsub obsessed with one-upping and outsmarting his idol. — Joyce Eng, Entertainment Weekly, 23 July 2026 And Vozinha, the goalkeeper who neutralized Spain, one-upped himself. — Alex Connor, USA Today, 4 July 2026 Overall, this is a rather fascinating deal between division rivals attempting to one-up one another in the Atlantic. — James Mirtle, New York Times, 1 July 2026 See All Example Sentences for one-up

Word History

Etymology

Verb

back-formation from one-upmanship

First Known Use

Verb

1963, in the meaning defined above

Adjective

1919, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of one-up was in 1919

Rhymes for one-up

See All Rhymes for one-up

Browse Nearby Words

one-two
one-up
one up
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“One-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one-up. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

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Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for one-up

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