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View synonyms for upstart

upstart

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

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.


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

noun

    1. a person, group, etc, that has risen suddenly to a position of power or wealth
    2. ( as modifier )

      an upstart family

      an upstart tyrant

    1. an arrogant or presumptuous person
    2. ( as modifier )

      his upstart ambition



verb

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

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Other Words From

  • upstartness noun

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Word History and Origins

Origin of upstart1

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

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Example Sentences

AirAsia, on the other hand, is a relatively new carrier, an upstart in the tradition of Southwest Airlines in the United States.

And if Warren seems like an unlikely upstart now, so did Obama at this time eight years ago.

If the upstart wins, the Democrats are in play for the first time in a generation.

The crashing and burning of her last presidential campaign to the unknown, young upstart.

He was the electric young upstart who upended her inevitable path to the White House in Iowa.

And the man who had done all this—a vulgar upstart out of Paris, reeking of leather and the barrack-room still lived!

"I guess that is straight enough for Guitar to believe, instead of that upstart lieutenant," said Harry.

The hills of Mount Upstart are of primitive form, and were judged to be composed of granite.

Bill had been watching, but he had not seen the young upstart from the agency go past, and neither had Bill's faithful clerk.

Others were derided by their contemporaries, as we deride the made-to-order coat of arms of some nineteenth century upstart.

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