1
: toward or at the rear of a theatrical stage
The actor moved upstage.
2
: away from a movie or television camera
1
2
: of or relating to the rear of a stage
upstaged; upstaging; upstages
1
: to draw attention away from
upstaging the competition
2
: to force (an actor) to face away from the audience by staying upstage
3
: to treat snobbishly
: the part of a stage that is farthest from the audience or camera
Examples of upstage in a Sentence
Verb
We don't want the flower girl upstaging the bride.
My apple pie was upstaged by her chocolate cake.
Recent Examples on the Web
David John Chávez, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026
More frustratingly, Snook’s face is frequently obscured by walls or cameras moving in front of her, and much of the action takes place far upstage.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Nov. 2022
Villaume and the orchestra were no less dramatic forces, but coordination might have been surer if DiDonato hadn’t been so far upstage.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 11 May 2021
Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
In the speech, Carney condemned economic coercion by great powers against smaller countries and received widespread praise and attention for his remarks, upstaging Trump at the gathering.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for upstage
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Adverb
There’s nothing fancy about a big, square screen that sits upstage of the circular playing area, but the subtlety in which the images and mood flows through the screen greatly enhance the storytelling.
—David John Chávez, Mercury News, 10 Apr. 2026
More frustratingly, Snook’s face is frequently obscured by walls or cameras moving in front of her, and much of the action takes place far upstage.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
Adjective
Ngin strides rapidly upstage and forcefully tears down a set of hanging white curtains.
—Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Nov. 2022
Villaume and the orchestra were no less dramatic forces, but coordination might have been surer if DiDonato hadn’t been so far upstage.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 11 May 2021
Verb
That was when Chad Henne, Josh McCown and John Beck competed for training camp, only to be upstaged by Chad Pennington’s late signing.
—Omar Kelly, Miami Herald, 13 Apr. 2026
In the speech, Carney condemned economic coercion by great powers against smaller countries and received widespread praise and attention for his remarks, upstaging Trump at the gathering.
—ABC News, 8 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for upstage
Cite this Entry
“Upstage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upstage. Accessed 20 Apr. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
upstage
1 of 2 adverb or adjective
up·stage
ˈəp-ˈstāj 
: toward or at the part of the stage or set farthest from the audience or the motion-picture or television camera
upstage
2 of 2 verb
up·stage
ˌəp-ˈstāj
: to steal attention away from
children upstaging adult performers
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