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
Matt Grobar, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
The craft wave boomed during the 1980s when Big Rock, Boston Beer, Redhook Ale and Sierra Nevada and other upstarts initiated production to challenge the dominance of big brewers like AB InBev and Molson Coors.
—John Kell, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Leading nominee Lady Gaga, Latin Icon Award recipient Ricky Martin and viral video breakouts Sombr and Conan Gray showcased MTV's commitment to balancing veterans and upstarts during the 2025 VMAs.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Grisham’s novel tells the story of Rudy Baylor, a fresh-out-of-law-school upstart who stumbles onto the case of a lifetime.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 2025
See All Example Sentences for upstart
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Noun
But public workers, journalists, and political upstarts have been building a movement to restore democracy for the public good.
—Matt Grobar, Deadline, 24 Sep. 2025
The craft wave boomed during the 1980s when Big Rock, Boston Beer, Redhook Ale and Sierra Nevada and other upstarts initiated production to challenge the dominance of big brewers like AB InBev and Molson Coors.
—John Kell, Forbes.com, 15 Sep. 2025
Leading nominee Lady Gaga, Latin Icon Award recipient Ricky Martin and viral video breakouts Sombr and Conan Gray showcased MTV's commitment to balancing veterans and upstarts during the 2025 VMAs.
—Melissa Ruggieri, USA Today, 8 Sep. 2025
Grisham’s novel tells the story of Rudy Baylor, a fresh-out-of-law-school upstart who stumbles onto the case of a lifetime.
—Graham Hillard, The Washington Examiner, 5 Sep. 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 Sep. 2025.
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