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
Brett Knight, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
In a year of big investments into upstarts that might one day rival DraftKings and FanDuel, Novig’s model raises different regulatory questions than those surrounding $2 billion venture capital darling Kalshi, another prediction market currently in a legal fight with New Jersey and other states.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 19 Aug. 2025
The 27-year-old has learned to trust her instincts over the years, first as a young Disney star and subsequently as an R&B upstart.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
Political upstart assemblyman Zohran Mamdani stunned the political world last month with an upset defeat of former governor Andrew Cuomo in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 July 2025
See All Example Sentences for upstart
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Noun
Tiafoe will also have a new look on court this year, after signing an apparel sponsorship in January with Lululemon—becoming one in a string of prominent players who have ditched traditional outfitters like Nike and Adidas in favor of a partnership with a tennis upstart.
—Brett Knight, Forbes.com, 22 Aug. 2025
In a year of big investments into upstarts that might one day rival DraftKings and FanDuel, Novig’s model raises different regulatory questions than those surrounding $2 billion venture capital darling Kalshi, another prediction market currently in a legal fight with New Jersey and other states.
—Dan Bernstein, Sportico.com, 19 Aug. 2025
The 27-year-old has learned to trust her instincts over the years, first as a young Disney star and subsequently as an R&B upstart.
—Steven J. Horowitz, Variety, 15 Aug. 2025
Political upstart assemblyman Zohran Mamdani stunned the political world last month with an upset defeat of former governor Andrew Cuomo in New York City's Democratic mayoral primary.
—Tom Rogers, MSNBC Newsweek, 22 July 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 28 Aug. 2025.
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