upstage
Upstage (verb) means to draw attention away from someone else, often deliberately. Example: “The flower girl upstaged the bride at the wedding.”
How to use upstage
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo steal the spotlight from someone, literally or figuratively.
Word forms
more upstage comparative, more upstage comparative, upstaged past tense, upstages singular, most upstage superlative, most upstage superlative
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.
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.