one-up

1 of 2

verb

ˌwən-ˈəp 

ˈwən-

one-upped; one-upping; one-ups

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

Verb

Custom gray velvet furniture and boiserie wall panels, a decorative note from 17th-century France, set the tone, and each detail one-ups the next. — Laura Dannen Redman, Robb Report, 10 Sep. 2026

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

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

Rhymes for one-up

• buttercup
• backup
• blowup
• breakup
• buildup
• checkup
• cleanup
• holdup
• hookup
• lineup
• lockup
• makeup