one-up

1 of 2

verb

ˌwən-ˈəp How to pronounce one-up (audio)
ˈwən-
one-upped; one-upping; one-ups

transitive verb

: to practice one-upmanship on

one up

2 of 2

adjective

: being in a position of advantage
usually used with on

Examples of one-up in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
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Verb
Two teammates would one-up him over the ensuing couple of days, producing a pair of shutouts against the Royals. Sam McDowell, Kansas City Star, 28 June 2025 But after the 2021 show blew up and caught the attention of audiences worldwide, Netflix and the show’s creator have been working to one-up their initial offering, in hopes of expanding the legacy the series has created. Judy Berman, Time, 27 June 2025 Just watch out for those in your circle trying to one-up your brilliance — this is your moment to lead the chat! Valerie Mesa, People.com, 26 June 2025 From left: The neighbors work to one-up each other with a rainbow-streamer curtain and a cheeky note. Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for one-up

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of one-up was in 1919

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Cite this Entry

“One-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one-up. Accessed 1 Jul. 2025.

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