upstart

1 of 2

noun

up·​start ˈəp-ˌstärt How to pronounce upstart (audio)
Synonyms of upstartnext
1
: one that has risen suddenly (as from a low position to wealth or power) : parvenu
especially : one that claims more personal importance than is warranted
2
: a start-up enterprise
upstart
ˈəp-ˈstärt How to pronounce upstart (audio)
adjective

upstart

2 of 2

verb

up·​start ˌəp-ˈstärt How to pronounce upstart (audio)
upstarted; upstarting; upstarts

intransitive verb

: to jump up (as to one's feet) suddenly

Synonyms of upstart

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Noun

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Examples of upstart in a Sentence

Noun a young upstart from Harvard who thinks he knows more than the boss having made their money in oil decades ago, they consider these billionaire dot-commers mere upstarts
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.
Noun
Good Good was preparing to lend its name to a PGA Tour tournament this fall, a major coup for a digital upstart that had grown into one of the dominant forces in YouTube golf, with more than 2 million subscribers. — Rick Maese, Washington Post, 28 Aug. 2026 The ecommerce upstart, which quickly outstripped legacy rivals like H&M and Zara in online apparel sales during the pandemic, saw its New York, then London, listing aspirations unravel amid mounting regulatory and political scrutiny. — Jasmin Malik Chua, Footwear News, 25 Aug. 2026 On one side, existing chip competitors and a growing group of upstarts are both vying for a bigger share of the market. — Bloomberg, Mercury News, 24 Aug. 2026 The channel has overhauled its lineup and inked content deals with upstarts like Crooked Media in order to reach beyond its base. — Erik Hayden, HollywoodReporter, 19 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for upstart

Word History

First Known Use

Noun

1555, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of upstart was in the 14th century

Rhymes for upstart

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Browse Nearby Words

upstaring
upstart
upstate
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Cite this Entry

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

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Kids Definition

upstart

noun
up·​start
ˈəp-ˌstärt
: a person who has risen suddenly (as from a low position to wealth or power)
especially : one who makes a great show of success
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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