upstart

noun
UK: /ˈʌpstɑːt/
US: /ˈʌpstɑːrt/

  1. A person who has recently gained power or importance and lacks the good manners that people expect.

    1. He is an upstart who thinks he knows everything.
    2. The established families resented the upstart's sudden rise to prominence in society.

Synonyms

climber parvenu arriviste
upstart intransitive-verb

  1. To suddenly rise to a higher position or status, especially in a way that annoys or threatens people already in that position.

    1. The small business upstart against the giant corporation.
    2. She upstarted the corporate ladder, surpassing seasoned executives with her innovative strategies.
upstart adjective

  1. Having recently gained power or importance and lacking the expected social skills.

    1. He has an upstart attitude towards his elders.
    2. The upstart company quickly gained market share with its aggressive marketing tactics.

Frequently Asked Questions

The phonetic transcription of "upstart" is /ˈʌpstɑːt/ in British English and /ˈʌpstɑːrt/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "upstart": climber, parvenu, arriviste.

Example usage of "upstart": "He is an upstart who thinks he knows everything.". More examples on the page.