upstart

C1 Topic:Describing People

US /ˈʌpˌstɑrt/ UK /ˈʌpˌstɑːt/ See IPA manual

Freq #27968

Meanings

1

noun
a person who has risen suddenly to wealth, power, or importance and is regarded as arrogant or presumptuous

The old families dismissed the ambitious newcomer as an upstart.
2

adj
newly successful or prominent and challenging established people or organizations

The upstart company won customers from several long-established rivals.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 noun · a person who has risen... parvenuarrivistesocial climber

2 adj · newly successful or... newly risenemerging challenging

More newcomer

Opposites

establishment figureveteran

Word family

Related forms nouveau richestatus seekersocial advancement

Etymology

From the earlier verb upstart, 'to spring or rise up suddenly,' found in Middle English as upstarten or upsterten and transparently formed from up + start. The noun came to denote someone newly risen in status, often with the implication that the rise outpaced the person's manners or accepted standing.

Topics

Describing People

External links

# upstart

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** noun, adj
**IPA (US):** /ˈʌpˌstɑrt/
**IPA (UK):** /ˈʌpˌstɑːt/
**Frequency rank:** 27968

## Meanings
1. a person who has risen suddenly to wealth, power, or importance and is regarded as arrogant or presumptuous
2. newly successful or prominent and challenging established people or organizations

## Examples
- The old families dismissed the ambitious newcomer as an upstart.
- The upstart company won customers from several long-established rivals.

## Synonyms
- parvenu
- arriviste
- social climber
- newcomer

## Antonyms
- establishment figure
- veteran

## Related Forms
- nouveau riche
- status seeker
- social advancement

## Etymology
From the earlier verb upstart, 'to spring or rise up suddenly,' found in Middle English as upstarten or upsterten and transparently formed from up + start. The noun came to denote someone newly risen in status, often with the implication that the rise outpaced the person's manners or accepted standing.

## Topics
- Describing People

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