SINCE 1828
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one-upmanship

noun
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one-up·​man·​ship | \ ˌwən-ˈəp-mən-ˌship How to pronounce one-upmanship (audio) \
variants: or less commonly one-upsmanship \ ˌwən-​ˈəps-​mən-​ˌship How to pronounce one-upmanship (audio) \

Definition of one-upmanship

: the art or practice of outdoing or keeping one jump ahead of a friend or competitor engaged in a round of verbal one-upmanship

First Known Use of one-upmanship

1952, in the meaning defined above

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Time Traveler for one-upmanship

Time Traveler

The first known use of one-upmanship was in 1952

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Dictionary Entries Near one-upmanship

one up

one-upmanship

on everyone's/everybody's lips

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Cite this Entry

“One-upmanship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one-upmanship. Accessed 2 Jul. 2022.

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