Definitions

from The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition.

  • adverb Toward, at, or on the rear part of a stage.
  • adjective Of or relating to the rear part of a stage.
  • adjective Informal Haughty; aloof.
  • noun The rear part of a stage, away from the audience.
  • transitive verb To distract attention from (another performer) by moving upstage, thus forcing the other performer to face away from the audience.
  • transitive verb To divert attention or praise from; force out of the spotlight.
  • transitive verb To treat haughtily.

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License.

  • noun The part of a stage that is farthest from the audience or camera.
  • adverb toward or at the rear of a theatrical stage.
  • adverb away from a motion-picture or television camera.
  • adjective At the rear of a stage.
  • verb transitive To draw attention away from.
  • verb transitive To force other actors to face away from the audience by staying upstage.
  • verb transitive To treat snobbishly.

from WordNet 3.0 Copyright 2006 by Princeton University. All rights reserved.

  • noun the rear part of the stage
  • adjective remote in manner
  • verb treat snobbishly, put in one's place
  • verb steal the show, draw attention to oneself away from someone else
  • verb move upstage, forcing the other actors to turn away from the audience
  • adjective of the back half of a stage
  • adverb at or toward the rear of the stage

Etymologies

from Wiktionary, Creative Commons Attribution/Share-Alike License

up +‎ stage

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Examples

  • WHITFIELD: Do you think the network asked him or encouraged him to joke about this so as to kind of upstage the rumors?

    CNN Transcript Jan 10, 2010 2010

  • And I expect he will have better options than Hillary to choose from ....... her attempt to "upstage" him last night should remove her from serious consideration as the VP. noemi of reason, latina for obama!

    Kennedy joins Obama VP search team 2008

  • Obama obviously knows it too ... he said yesterday, he believe Hillary would be a great surrogate for him and when asked about Bill he said he said he was sure he would not want to 'upstage' his wife at the unity rally on Friday.

    Election Central Morning Roundup 2009

  • As much as I love it, I find it really does kind of upstage the other flavors in some cookies.

    Maple Pecan Oatmeal Cookies | Baking Bites 2005

  • If at times she was perplexingly cool, -- or "upstage," as he called it, -- he flattered himself that he knew women too well to be discouraged by these purely feminine manifestations.

    Quill's Window George Barr McCutcheon 1897

  • Rihanna has reportedly kicked Nicki Minaj off her tour because she was furious that the rapper would "upstage" her performance.

    All - Digital Spy - Entertainment and Media News 2010

  • Rihanna has reportedly kicked Nicki Minaj off her tour because she was furious that the rapper would "upstage" her performance.

    All - Digital Spy - Entertainment and Media News 2010

  • Rihanna has reportedly kicked Nicki Minaj off her tour because she was furious that the rapper would "upstage" her performance.

    All - Digital Spy - Entertainment and Media News 2010

  • Rihanna has reportedly kicked Nicki Minaj off her tour because she was furious that the rapper would "upstage" her performance.

    All - Digital Spy - Entertainment and Media News 2010

  • Rihanna has reportedly kicked Nicki Minaj off her tour because she was furious that the rapper would "upstage" her performance.

    All - Digital Spy - Entertainment and Media News 2010

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