upstart

[ noun, adjective uhp-stahrt; verb uhp-stahrt ]
See synonyms for upstart on Thesaurus.com
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.

Origin of upstart

1
1275–1325; Middle English (v.); see up-, start

Other words from upstart

  • upstartness, noun

Words Nearby upstart

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use upstart in a sentence

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)
  1. (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