up·start
ˈəp-ˌstärt 
1
: one that has risen suddenly (as from a low position to wealth or power) : parvenu
especially
: one that claims more personal importance than is warranted
2
: a start-up enterprise
Examples of upstart in a Sentence
Noun
a young upstart from Harvard who thinks he knows more than the boss
having made their money in oil decades ago, they consider these billionaire dot-commers mere upstarts
Recent Examples on the Web
Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 30 May 2025
Eagerly drinking the Kool-Aid is Simone DeWitt (Alcock), a formerly impoverished but deeply ambitious upstart from Buffalo who gets a taste of the lifestyle of the rich and famous as Michaela's uppity assistant.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 23 May 2025
Satellite upstarts headquartered in Europe and China aren’t far behind either.
—Joshua Kaplan, ProPublica, 15 May 2025
By the time this happens, the race could already have been won, either by an existing AI leader or some upstart that approached this challenge in a more agile, innovative way.
—Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upstart
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.
Noun
The upstart founded by Stewart and Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier (also a mother) is known not only for its competitive wages, with average salaries rivaling max deals in the WNBA, but also its family-friendly services.
—Eric Jackson, Sportico.com, 30 May 2025
Eagerly drinking the Kool-Aid is Simone DeWitt (Alcock), a formerly impoverished but deeply ambitious upstart from Buffalo who gets a taste of the lifestyle of the rich and famous as Michaela's uppity assistant.
—Kelly Lawler, USA Today, 23 May 2025
Satellite upstarts headquartered in Europe and China aren’t far behind either.
—Joshua Kaplan, ProPublica, 15 May 2025
By the time this happens, the race could already have been won, either by an existing AI leader or some upstart that approached this challenge in a more agile, innovative way.
—Bernard Marr, Forbes.com, 30 Apr. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upstart
Cite this Entry
“Upstart.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upstart. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share