Phrase guide

one up

noun · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

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1

noun

Meaning 1

An advantage over someone.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: especially

Examples

  • WePay wants to get one-up in the mobile payments race with its new iOS app for small businesses.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

noun

Meaning 2

Alternative spelling of 1-up (“extra life”).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: alt-of, alternative

Topics: video-games

Examples

  • If you hit that block, you can get a one up.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

3

verb

Meaning 3

To outdo, to perform something slightly better than a competitor's prior effort.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: idiomatic

Examples

  • Every year the neighbors try to one-up each other with their holiday lights.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

29 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: имам малко преимущество (imam malko preimuštestvo) — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Czech: přetrumfnout — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Czech: zajistit si výhodu — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Finnish: pistää paremmaksi — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Finnish: panna paremmaksi — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • French: surpasser — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • German: um eine Nasenlänge voraus sein — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Hungarian: leköröz — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Hungarian: lepipál — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Hungarian: orrhosszal megelőz — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Icelandic: bera af — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Icelandic: skara fram úr — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Icelandic: reka á stampinn — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Polish: zyskiwać przewagę — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Polish: zyskać przewagę — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Portuguese: superar — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Romanian: întrece — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Romanian: depăși — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Russian: превосходи́ть (prevosxodítʹ) — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Russian: превзойти́ (prevzojtí) — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Russian: переплёвывать (perepljóvyvatʹ) — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Russian: переплю́нуть (perepljúnutʹ) — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Russian: уде́лывать (udélyvatʹ) — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Russian: уде́лать (udélatʹ) — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Spanish: superar — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Swedish: bräcka — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Swedish: överträffa — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Swedish: överglänsa — do something slightly better than a competitor
  • Swedish: bräda — do something slightly better than a competitor