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
Dade Hayes, Deadline, 23 June 2025
Instead, Thompson argues, that media is following so many other economic forces, with a robust world of upstarts, and the biggest players getting bigger.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2025
Mamelodi Sundowns Probably the best team in sub-Saharan Africa, Pretoria’s Sundowns come into the tournament on a slightly downbeat note, after losing to Egyptian upstarts Pyramids in the CAF Champions League final last month.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 11 June 2025
The upstart was brought back to Earth when Morikawa, winner of six PGA tour events, dropped a putt in front of scores of spectators while cameras rolled.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 5 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for upstart
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Noun
Chief among the upstarts is Zohran Mamdani, a two-term state Assemblyman from Queens who has been endorsed by U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY) and Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-VT).
—Dade Hayes, Deadline, 23 June 2025
Instead, Thompson argues, that media is following so many other economic forces, with a robust world of upstarts, and the biggest players getting bigger.
—Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2025
Mamelodi Sundowns Probably the best team in sub-Saharan Africa, Pretoria’s Sundowns come into the tournament on a slightly downbeat note, after losing to Egyptian upstarts Pyramids in the CAF Champions League final last month.
—Tim Spiers, New York Times, 11 June 2025
The upstart was brought back to Earth when Morikawa, winner of six PGA tour events, dropped a putt in front of scores of spectators while cameras rolled.
—Bryan Alexander, USA Today, 5 June 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 30 Jun. 2025.
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