upstage

[ uhp-steyj ]

adverb

1. on or toward the back of the stage.

adjective

1. of, relating to, or located at the back of the stage.
2. haughtily aloof; supercilious.

verb (used with object)

, up·staged, up·stag·ing.

1. to overshadow (another performer) by moving upstage and forcing the performer to turn away from the audience.
2. to outdo professionally, socially, etc.
3. to behave snobbishly toward.

noun

1. the rear half of the stage.
2. any stage position to the rear of another.

upstage

/ ˈʌpˈsteɪdʒ /

adverb

1. on, at, or to the rear of the stage

adjective

1. of or relating to the back half of the stage
2. informal.
   haughty; supercilious; aloof

verb

1. to move upstage of (another actor), thus forcing him to turn away from the audience
2. informal.
   to draw attention to oneself from (someone else); steal the show from (someone)
3. informal.
   to treat haughtily

noun

1. the back half of the stage

Word History and Origins

Origin of upstage¹

First recorded in 1905–10; up- + stage

Example Sentences

Darnold leads the league with 11 touchdown passes and would like nothing better than to stick one on his former side - and upstage headline-maker Rodgers in the process.

From BBC

One critic noted that "when Maggie Smith is on the screen, the picture moves," and Burton afterwards teasingly described her upstaging of him as "grand larceny."

From BBC

The venue where former Prime Minister Liz Truss was upstaged in a politically-motivated stunt says it has a theory about how activists pulled it off.

From BBC

To upstage the former president, who only recently faced an assassination attempt, is no small feat, said Mr Polyansky.

From BBC

Jokic looked on course to upstage his American opponents, playing a key role as Serbia, who led by as many as 17 points, stifled them in a dominant first half.

From BBC

Related Words

• overshadow