Meaning & use
upstart
A person who has suddenly risen to a position of power or importance and behaves presumptuously.
See it in a sentence
The veteran executives dismissed the young upstart's proposal without giving it a fair hearing.
The tech upstart quickly overtook older, more established competitors in the market.
A note on using this word
Upstart usually carries a critical tone, implying the person's rise was sudden and perhaps undeserved.
Words with a similar meaning
newcomerparvenu
Choose a synonym to suit the sentence. Meanings can overlap without being identical.
Words with an opposite meaning
Another way to use it
2. adjective
Newly risen to prominence and regarded as presumptuous or overconfident.
The upstart company challenged the industry's biggest names within just two years.
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