One Upmanship

C1 16+

Pronunciation: /wʌn ʌpmænʃɪp/

Definitions of one upmanship

noun the practice of achieving an advantage over others through a display of superior skills or abilities

Example Sentences

A1 She didn't like his constant one upmanship during the game.

A2 The siblings engaged in a friendly one upmanship to see who could finish their chores first.

B1 The office environment was filled with subtle one upmanship as coworkers competed for promotions.

B2 The political debate turned into a heated exchange of one upmanship between the two candidates.

C1 The business world is often characterized by cutthroat one upmanship in order to gain a competitive edge.

C2 The rivalry between the two companies escalated into a fierce battle of one upmanship in the market.

Examples of one upmanship in a Sentence

formal The constant one-upmanship between the two rival companies led to a fierce competition for market dominance.

informal There's always a bit of one-upmanship going on between my siblings when it comes to achievements.

slang The group of friends engaged in a game of one-upmanship to see who could come up with the most outrageous story.

figurative The artist's use of bold colors and intricate details in his paintings was a form of one-upmanship against traditional styles.

Grammatical Forms of one upmanship

past tense

one-upped

plural

one-upmanships

comparative

more one-upmanship

superlative

most one-upmanship

present tense

one-ups

future tense

will one-up

perfect tense

has one-upped

continuous tense

is one-upping

singular

one-upmanship

positive degree

one-upmanship

infinitive

to one-up

gerund

one-upping

participle

one-upping

Origin and Evolution of one upmanship

First Known Use: 1952 year
Language of Origin: English
Story behind the word: The term 'one upmanship' is believed to have originated from the book 'One-Upmanship' by Stephen Potter, published in 1952. The book satirizes competitive behavior and strategies for gaining superiority over others.
Evolution of the word: Over time, 'one upmanship' has come to be used more broadly to describe any behavior or attitude of trying to outdo or surpass others in a competitive or boastful manner.