verb
upstage
uhp-STAYJ
Upstage (verb) means to draw attention away from someone else, often deliberately. Example: “The flower girl upstaged the bride at the wedding.”
verb
1
To draw attention away from someone else, often deliberately.
"The flower girl upstaged the bride at the wedding."
noun
1
The part of a stage farthest from the audience.
"The actor moved upstage to deliver his final line."
adj
1
Haughty or aloof.
"His upstage manner put off the other guests."
How to use upstage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo steal the spotlight from someone, literally or figuratively.
Common pairings
upstage someone
move upstage
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- upstages
- Past tense
- upstaged
- Comparative
- more upstage
- Superlative
- most upstage
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The flower girl _____ the bride at the wedding.
Etymology
From up- + stage. The figurative meaning "to draw attention away" comes from actors moving to a higher, more visible spot on a sloped stage.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
downstage
Related words
Rhymes for upstage
See all rhymes for upstage →Frequently asked questions
What does “upstage” mean?
The word “upstage” means to draw attention away from someone else, often deliberately. In plain terms, to steal the spotlight from someone, literally or figuratively.
How do you pronounce “upstage”?
“Upstage” is pronounced uhp-STAYJ (/ʌpˈsteɪd͡ʒ/ in IPA).
How do you use “upstage” in a sentence?
Here is “upstage” used in a sentence: “The flower girl upstaged the bride at the wedding.”
What part of speech is “upstage”?
Depending on how it is used, “upstage” can be a verb, a noun and an adjective.
How many meanings does “upstage” have?
“Upstage” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to draw attention away from someone else, often deliberately.
