UPSTAGE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does upstage mean? 

• UPSTAGE (noun)
  The noun UPSTAGE has 1 sense:

1. the rear part of the stage

  Familiarity information: UPSTAGE used as a noun is very rare.

• UPSTAGE (adjective)
  The adjective UPSTAGE has 2 senses:

1. of the back half of a stage

2. remote in manner

  Familiarity information: UPSTAGE used as an adjective is rare.

• UPSTAGE (verb)
  The verb UPSTAGE has 3 senses:

1. treat snobbishly, put in one's place

2. move upstage, forcing the other actors to turn away from the audience

3. steal the show, draw attention to oneself away from someone else

  Familiarity information: UPSTAGE used as a verb is uncommon.

• UPSTAGE (adverb)
  The adverb UPSTAGE has 1 sense:

1. at or toward the rear of the stage

  Familiarity information: UPSTAGE used as an adverb is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UPSTAGE (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

The rear part of the stage

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("upstage" is a kind of...):

part; portion (something less than the whole of a human artifact)

Holonyms ("upstage" is a part of...):

stage (a large platform on which people can stand and can be seen by an audience)

• UPSTAGE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Of the back half of a stage

Context example:

she crossed to the upstage chair forcing the lead to turn his back to the audience

Antonym:

downstage (of the front half of a stage)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Remote in manner

Synonyms:

aloof; distant; upstage

Context example:

he was upstage with strangers

Similar:

reserved (marked by self-restraint and reticence)

• UPSTAGE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they upstage    ... he / she / it upstages   
Past simple: upstaged   
Past participle: upstaged   
-ing form: upstaging   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Treat snobbishly, put in one's place

Classified under:

Verbs of political and social activities and events

Hypernyms (to "upstage" is one way to...):

do by; handle; treat (interact in a certain way)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sense 2

Meaning:

Move upstage, forcing the other actors to turn away from the audience

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "upstage" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Derivation:

upstager (a selfish actor who upstages the other actors)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Steal the show, draw attention to oneself away from someone else

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Context example:

When the dog entered the stage, he upstaged the actress

Hypernyms (to "upstage" is one way to...):

outshine (attract more attention and praise than others)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Sentence example:

Sam cannot upstage Sue

Derivation:

upstager (a selfish actor who upstages the other actors)

• UPSTAGE (adverb)

Sense 1

Meaning:

At or toward the rear of the stage

Context example:

the dancers were directed to move upstage

Domain category:

dramatic art; dramatics; dramaturgy; theater; theatre (the art of writing and producing plays)

Antonym:

downstage (at or toward the front of the stage)