1
: toward or at the rear of a theatrical stage
2
: away from a movie or television camera
1
2
: of or relating to the rear of a stage
upstaged; upstaging; upstages
1
: to draw attention away from
upstaging the competition
2
: to force (an actor) to face away from the audience by staying upstage
3
: to treat snobbishly
: the part of a stage that is farthest from the audience or camera
Examples of upstage in a Sentence
Verb
We don't want the flower girl upstaging the bride.
My apple pie was upstaged by her chocolate cake.
Recent Examples on the Web
Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
Eric walked up to Perry, upstage, in the dark, behind Dan, put Perry in a headlock and punched him in the stomach three times.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 16 Sep. 2024
Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Nov. 2022
Villaume and the orchestra were no less dramatic forces, but coordination might have been surer if DiDonato hadn’t been so far upstage.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 11 May 2021
Nila Do Simon, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2025
Ballas almost did his job too well; Conner just about upstaged his popular wife on the dance floor.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
Kristina Karisch, The Hill, 24 June 2025
To pull off the brief flash of Norma on the big screen, Lloyd and his team began developing a working upstage studio, out of sight from the audience, to shoot the live footage.
—Matt Minton, Variety, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for upstage
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show current usage.
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Adverb
More frustratingly, Snook’s face is frequently obscured by walls or cameras moving in front of her, and much of the action takes place far upstage.
—Patrick Ryan, USA Today, 28 Mar. 2025
Eric walked up to Perry, upstage, in the dark, behind Dan, put Perry in a headlock and punched him in the stomach three times.
—Chris Willman, Variety, 16 Sep. 2024
Adjective
Ngin strides rapidly upstage and forcefully tears down a set of hanging white curtains.
—Don Aucoin, BostonGlobe.com, 17 Nov. 2022
Villaume and the orchestra were no less dramatic forces, but coordination might have been surer if DiDonato hadn’t been so far upstage.
—Scott Cantrell, Dallas News, 11 May 2021
Verb
The tangy citrus pie is upstaging the classics in Florida and many other parts of the country.
—Nila Do Simon, Southern Living, 22 Oct. 2025
Ballas almost did his job too well; Conner just about upstaged his popular wife on the dance floor.
—Lynette Rice, Deadline, 14 Oct. 2025
Noun
The Washington Post: U.S. strikes on Iran upstage a NATO leaders summit tailored for Trump.
—Kristina Karisch, The Hill, 24 June 2025
To pull off the brief flash of Norma on the big screen, Lloyd and his team began developing a working upstage studio, out of sight from the audience, to shoot the live footage.
—Matt Minton, Variety, 19 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for upstage
Cite this Entry
“Upstage.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upstage. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
upstage
1 of 2 adverb or adjective
up·stage
ˈəp-ˈstāj 
: toward or at the part of the stage or set farthest from the audience or the motion-picture or television camera
upstage
2 of 2 verb
up·stage
ˌəp-ˈstāj
: to steal attention away from
children upstaging adult performers
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