ENGLISH DICTIONARY

Upstart

Definition, Meaning & Examples

Pronunciation /ˈʌp.stɑːt/ · Part of speech noun

Quick meaning: Upstart is a noun meaning The meadow saffron.

Meaning

The meadow saffron.

More Meanings

  1. Acting like a parvenu.
  2. Self-important and presumptuous.
  3. To rise suddenly, to spring
  4. One who has suddenly gained wealth, power, or other prominence, but either has not received social acceptance or has become arrogant or presumptuous.

Example Sentences

upstarts […]they call in reproach mushrooms
the beauteous beast Scared by the noise upstarted at our feet
"Be that word our sign of parting, bird or fiend!" I shrieked, upstarting—
Th' Elfe therewith astownd, Upstarted lightly from his looser make, And his unready weapons gan in hand to take.

Word Forms

Synonyms for upstart

Depending on context, synonyms include arriviste, parvenu, parvenue.

Related Words

Related dictionary entries include parvenu, pretentious, parvenue, ascendant, ascent, oneupmanship.

Related Dictionary Tools

Sources & Attribution

FreeDictionaryAPI.com / Wiktionary · Original source · CC BY-SA 4.0

Dictionary data is provided by FreeDictionaryAPI.com and sourced from Wiktionary under its stated license.