one-upping

Definition of one-uppingnext
present participle of one-up
See the Dictionary Definition 

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for one-upping
Verb
  • The Times reported that Dela Rosa had been in hiding for months but that he was seen publicly on Monday in the Senate building when surveillance cameras captured footage of him outrunning agents seeking to arrest him.
    Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
  • And his rider, Flavien Prat, has a knack for outrunning the odds with his mounts in Triple Crown races.
    Steve Kornacki, NBC news, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • As rumors have flown about this relentless Sacramento parking enforcement officer, Nakamura has quietly patrolled the streets, outdoing himself.
    Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 15 Apr. 2026
  • The Bruins shot a dominant 58% from the field, well outdoing the solid 43% for the Trojans.
    Sean Campbell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • However, there is broad consensus that the surge, fueled by enthusiasm around artificial intelligence, can’t last forever and California must address its structural deficit, with spending outpacing revenue collection.
    Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2026
  • Our biggest challenge is that the cost of living is outpacing wages.
    Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • The car-sized rover has been exploring Mars' Gale Crater since 2012, far exceeding its two-year mission plan.
    Eric Lagatta, USA Today, 12 May 2026
  • Hiring slowed in April but remained solid, exceeding economists’ expectations, federal government data last week showed.
    Max Zahn, ABC News, 12 May 2026
Verb
  • The newest member of the Dream became the fastest player in WNBA history to record 50 career double-doubles during Saturday’s season-opening win over the Minnesota Lynx, surpassing a mark previously held by WNBA legend Tina Charles.
    Amber Harding OutKick, FOXNews.com, 10 May 2026
  • Then, in 2017, Tesla mainstreamed the Model S with the more affordable Model 3, surpassing the erstwhile eco-warrior favorite Prius.
    Brooke Crothers, Forbes.com, 10 May 2026
Verb
  • That's because the waning gibbous moon will appear in the sky at the same time, most likely outshining many of the fainter shooting stars.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 4 May 2026
  • Driscoll has been seen by Hegseth’s aides as outshining the Defense secretary on prominent policy initiatives.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • In 2026, the pace of deals has kicked into overdrive, with Nvidia already topping $40 billion in commitments and expanding its portfolio to include more public equities.
    Kristina Partsinevelos,Ashley Capoot, CNBC, 9 May 2026
  • This season, however, most cases have been found in the country’s central region, with the province of Buenos Aires topping the highest number of cases with 42.
    Gonzalo Zegarra, CNN Money, 9 May 2026
Verb
  • Their leaving the nest might seem sad, but our human history has been built on cycles of children transcending their parents.
    Blake Simons, Variety, 13 May 2026
  • But what has made the confrontation most electrifying is the way in which the pontiff is not just standing up to the president but transcending him.
    Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“One-upping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/one-upping. Accessed 18 May. 2026.

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