one-upping

Definition of one-uppingnext
present participle of one-up
See the Dictionary Definition 

Example Sentences

Recent Examples of Synonyms for one-upping
Verb
  • The Times reported that Dela Rosa had been in hiding for months but that he was seen publicly on Monday in the Senate building when surveillance cameras captured footage of him outrunning agents seeking to arrest him.
    Liam Quinn, PEOPLE, 13 May 2026
  • And his rider, Flavien Prat, has a knack for outrunning the odds with his mounts in Triple Crown races.
    Steve Kornacki, NBC news, 1 May 2026
Verb
  • As rumors have flown about this relentless Sacramento parking enforcement officer, Nakamura has quietly patrolled the streets, outdoing himself.
    Ariane Lange, Sacbee.com, 15 Apr. 2026
  • The Bruins shot a dominant 58% from the field, well outdoing the solid 43% for the Trojans.
    Sean Campbell, Los Angeles Times, 8 Mar. 2026
Verb
  • However, there is broad consensus that the surge, fueled by enthusiasm around artificial intelligence, can’t last forever and California must address its structural deficit, with spending outpacing revenue collection.
    Kate Wolffe, Sacbee.com, 14 May 2026
  • Our biggest challenge is that the cost of living is outpacing wages.
    Eleanor Dearman, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • As the SpaceX deal surfaced, Cursor was also reported to be in negotiations to bring in a new $2 billion funding round at a valuation exceeding $50 billion.
    Rebecca Fannin, CNBC, 19 May 2026
  • Tarmac delays exceeding four hours on international flights increased to 77, up from 64 in 2024.
    Bruce Finley, Denver Post, 19 May 2026
Verb
  • Marner leads this postseason with 18 points, surpassing his previous career high of 14.
    Jesse Granger, New York Times, 15 May 2026
  • Spain clinches top spot for LGBTIA protections For the first time in a decade, Malta lost its spot atop the rankings, with Spain surpassing the archipelago under the leadership of leftist prime minister, Pedro Sánchez.
    Drew Pittock, USA Today, 14 May 2026
Verb
  • That's because the waning gibbous moon will appear in the sky at the same time, most likely outshining many of the fainter shooting stars.
    Anthony Wood, Space.com, 4 May 2026
  • Driscoll has been seen by Hegseth’s aides as outshining the Defense secretary on prominent policy initiatives.
    Los Angeles Times, Los Angeles Times, 5 Apr. 2026
Verb
  • Severe to extreme drought conditions exist in some of the red-flag warning areas, where expected wind gusts topping 55 mph threaten to rapidly spread wildfires.
    Kyle Reiman, ABC News, 17 May 2026
  • The show was beautifully choreographed with each light display topping the previous one.
    Veronica Fernandez-Alvarado, Sacbee.com, 16 May 2026
Verb
  • Their leaving the nest might seem sad, but our human history has been built on cycles of children transcending their parents.
    Blake Simons, Variety, 13 May 2026
  • But what has made the confrontation most electrifying is the way in which the pontiff is not just standing up to the president but transcending him.
    Peter Wehner, The Atlantic, 27 Apr. 2026
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.

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Cite this Entry

“One-upping.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/one-upping. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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