one up

¹

adjective

1. having gained an advantage in some way that betokens success, especially over rivals.
2. leading an opponent by one point or one scoring unit:

   The home team was one up on the visitors.

3. one each; tied at a score of one:

   The score was one up in the ninth inning.

adverb

1. Printing. with only one reproduction of a form per sheet or on a given sheet:

   We must print this job one up.

2. Journalism. using one more column of space than of type.

one-up

²

[ wuhn-uhp ]

verb (used with object)

, one-upped, one-up·ping.

1. to get the better of; succeed in being a point, move, step, etc., ahead of (someone):

   They one-upped the competition.

one-up

adjective

1. informal.
   having or having scored an advantage or lead over someone or something

Word History and Origins

Origin of one up¹

First recorded in 1920–25

Origin of one up²

First recorded in 1960–65

Idioms and Phrases

Having an advantage or lead over someone, as in Sara is one up on Jane because she passed algebra in summer school . This expression comes from sports, where it means to be one point ahead of one's opponents. It was transferred to more general use about 1920.

Example Sentences

Recordings by Gustavo Dudamel and the Los Angeles Philharmonic nabbed six 2025 Grammy nominations Friday, with Dudamel and the orchestra picking one up for orchestral performance for their work on composer Gabriela Ortiz’s “Revolución Diamantina.”

From Los Angeles Times

But there were choruses of boos each time CNN announced that Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump was projected to pick one up.

From Los Angeles Times

Order online or swing by the L.A. showroom on Beverly Boulevard and pick one up IRL.

From Los Angeles Times

Leaner, more agile in the field and with perhaps the safest pair of hands in the England team, Brook said he would have "got to 150 and slogged one up in the air" had he not got into such fine physical condition.

From BBC

And once a country has set one up, what’s to stop another nation establishing their base a bit too close?

From BBC