one-upmanship
noun
one-up·man·ship
ˌwən-ˈəp-mən-ˌship 
variants
or less commonly one-upsmanship
: the art or practice of outdoing or keeping one jump ahead of a friend or competitor
engaged in a round of verbal one-upmanship
Examples of one-upmanship in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Music promoters, both craving the one-upmanship and genuine satisfaction of getting a lucrative band back on a stage, have more money at their disposal than ever before to make their pipe dreams a reality.
—
Devon Ivie, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
It’s been nine years since that last installment, and from the moment Daniel arrives, in the flattened hair that flatters him, Eisenberg is verbally locked and loaded, ramping up the one-upmanship, tossing the direct-gaze insults, keeping each encounter wired.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 Nov. 2025
In the matter of handmade placards—Magic Marker on cardboard, duct-taped to wooden yardsticks—there was a certain amount of politico-literary one-upmanship.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
This one-upmanship obscured testimony on how many games reproduced—rather than created—society’s sexist and racist ideals.
—Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Still practicing the Gershwin standard and learning to do less in order to do more – that is, creating something richer for collaboration rather than one-upmanship.
—John Baldoni, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
That didn't stop Sigma from engaging in some one-upmanship, with its 135mm F1.4 DG Art ($1,899) that focuses in an instant and features a brighter optical formula that excels in tough light and blurs backgrounds into nothing.
—PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2025
But in the Trump era of flashy braggadocio and chest-thumping one-upmanship, Newsom is fighting fire with fire.
—Matt K. Lewis, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2025
In a field known for competitive one-upmanship, this seemed more a joyous rap party.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 24 Aug. 2025
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.
Devon Ivie, Vulture, 13 Nov. 2025
It’s been nine years since that last installment, and from the moment Daniel arrives, in the flattened hair that flatters him, Eisenberg is verbally locked and loaded, ramping up the one-upmanship, tossing the direct-gaze insults, keeping each encounter wired.
—Owen Gleiberman, Variety, 11 Nov. 2025
In the matter of handmade placards—Magic Marker on cardboard, duct-taped to wooden yardsticks—there was a certain amount of politico-literary one-upmanship.
—Jill Lepore, New Yorker, 10 Nov. 2025
This one-upmanship obscured testimony on how many games reproduced—rather than created—society’s sexist and racist ideals.
—Time, 8 Oct. 2025
Still practicing the Gershwin standard and learning to do less in order to do more – that is, creating something richer for collaboration rather than one-upmanship.
—John Baldoni, Forbes.com, 16 Sep. 2025
That didn't stop Sigma from engaging in some one-upmanship, with its 135mm F1.4 DG Art ($1,899) that focuses in an instant and features a brighter optical formula that excels in tough light and blurs backgrounds into nothing.
—PC Magazine, 9 Sep. 2025
But in the Trump era of flashy braggadocio and chest-thumping one-upmanship, Newsom is fighting fire with fire.
—Matt K. Lewis, Mercury News, 28 Aug. 2025
In a field known for competitive one-upmanship, this seemed more a joyous rap party.
—Rob Hubbard, Twin Cities, 24 Aug. 2025
Cite this Entry
“One-upmanship.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/one-upmanship. Accessed 27 Nov. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share