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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Matthew eventually one-ups the request by losing his boxers as well and going full Winnie the Pooh, which earns him the respect of his fellow suck-ups. David Fear, Rolling Stone, 23 Aug. 2025 The old girl one-upped a 42-year-old trout found in 1998 in Lake Superior. Darcie Moran, Freep.com, 15 Aug. 2025 But arch-rival MediaTek may one-up Qualcomm by unveiling its Dimensity 9500 flagship chipset a day earlier on September 22. Ewan Spence, Forbes.com, 15 Aug. 2025 Don’t entertain or try to one-up toxicity. Valerie Mesa, People.com, 7 Aug. 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

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“One-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one-up. Accessed 9 Sep. 2025.

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