as in to outdo
Related Words
Relevance
Dissimilar Words
Example Sentences
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of one-up
From left: The neighbors work to one-up each other with a rainbow-streamer curtain and a cheeky note.
—
Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025
What your child needs is for their parents to put their child’s needs first and create an environment where their children can thrive, not look for ways to one-up each other.
—Jann Blackstone, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025
Wallen also holds four of the top 10, likewise a new best, one-upping the three simultaneous top 10s that Drake logged for nine weeks in June-September 2018.
—Gary Trust, Billboard, 3 June 2025
And in the business category, several carriers have spent the past few years quietly racing to one-up each other by installing more comfortable lie-flat beds, swapping polyester seat fabrics for higher-quality leather and wool blends, and offering everything from caviar service to premium wines.
—Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for one-up
Alice Gibbs, MSNBC Newsweek, 16 June 2025
What your child needs is for their parents to put their child’s needs first and create an environment where their children can thrive, not look for ways to one-up each other.
—Jann Blackstone, Chicago Tribune, 10 June 2025
Wallen also holds four of the top 10, likewise a new best, one-upping the three simultaneous top 10s that Drake logged for nine weeks in June-September 2018.
—Gary Trust, Billboard, 3 June 2025
And in the business category, several carriers have spent the past few years quietly racing to one-up each other by installing more comfortable lie-flat beds, swapping polyester seat fabrics for higher-quality leather and wool blends, and offering everything from caviar service to premium wines.
—Bailey Berg, AFAR Media, 30 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for one-up
Recent Examples of Synonyms for one-up
Verb
-
He was quickly won over by her performance, but her insistence on outdoing herself ingratiated herself to the filmmaker even more.—
Brian Davids,
HollywoodReporter,
18 July 2025
-
Lil Uzi Vert wasn’t about to be outdone and dropped $30,000 on an Eliantte bracelet.—
Amber Corrine,
VIBE.com,
17 July 2025
Verb
-
In one of the movie’s most exciting scenes, Joel uses a gold 1979 928, and its potent V-8, to outrun a competitor in a Cadillac Coupe Deville.—
Bryan Hood,
Robb Report,
23 July 2025
-
But in 2020, trying to outrun the COVID-19 pandemic, the Milwaukee music festival was moved to fall, with a three-day, three-weekend format.—
Chris Foran,
jsonline.com,
15 July 2025
Verb
-
Rising expenses have outpaced state aid as the demand for evaluations and student services has only continued to grow.—
Kansas City Star,
Kansas City Star,
22 July 2025
-
In such starts, Wheeler’s 1,000 strikeouts outpaced all NL arms by a margin of 91, at minimum.—
Gabrielle Starr,
Boston Herald,
22 July 2025
Verb
-
The performance, which bettered Wilson’s former U18 best of 44.20 from last year at the Holloway Pro Classic, moved the rising high school senior and Olympic gold medalist to No. 4 in the world at the distance.—
Cory Mull,
Forbes.com,
13 July 2025
-
Research has shown that expressing gratitude provides many health benefits including reducing depression, improving self-esteem, bettering sleep, lowering blood pressure and an increased sense of happiness and well-being.—
Rafael James,
Sun Sentinel,
24 June 2025
Verb
-
His past is tough to outrace, though, and his biggest competition might be his own teammate, the hotshot rookie Joshua Pearce (Idris).—
Nada Aboul Kheir,
Deadline,
24 June 2025
-
After Pete Alonso tied the score with a double, Brandon Nimmo put the Mets (38-23) in front by beating out an infield single, outracing Kershaw to the bag on a ground ball Freeman fielded in front of second baseman Hyeseong Kim (who might have had an easier play moving toward the bag).—
Jack Harris,
Los Angeles Times,
4 June 2025
Verb
-
The most violent of these deaths are associated with truly giant stars and are known as supernovas—explosions that sometimes outshine entire galaxies.—
Robin George Andrews,
Smithsonian Magazine,
30 May 2025
-
In a career spanning 37 years and over 50 features, there have been few instances when Aamir Khan has been outshined in a film.—
Anupama Chopra,
HollywoodReporter,
1 July 2025
Verb
-
Interest payments are now the second-largest spending category in the federal budget, surpassing Medicare and defense in fiscal year 2024 and trailing only Social Security.—
Tami Luhby,
CNN Money,
19 July 2025
-
Kansas City doubled its own record for daily rainfall Wednesday with 2.78 inches, surpassing the previous record of 1.35 inches set in 1968, according to the National Weather Service.—
Zuri Primos
July 18,
Kansas City Star,
18 July 2025
Verb
-
Superman’s persona transcends any one classification.—
Ari Daniel,
Smithsonian Magazine,
10 July 2025
-
As Bailey crossed home, his oxygen reserves depleted after completing a walk-off, three-run, inside-the-park home run to defeat the Philadelphia Phillies, 4-3, the moment transcended into the echelon of unforgettable.—
Justice delos Santos,
Mercury News,
9 July 2025
Cite this Entry
“One-up.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/one-up. Accessed 29 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share