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Upstaged: meaning, definitions and examples

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upstaged

 

[ ʌpˈsteɪdʒd ]

Verb
Context #1 | Verb

performing arts

To upstage someone means to divert attention from them or make them seem less important, usually in a performance context. It often occurs when one performer or individual captures the spotlight or focus, overshadowing others in a scene or event. This can be intentional or accidental, but it typically leads to feelings of resentment or frustration among those being upstaged.

Synonyms

detract, outshine, overshadow

Examples of usage

  • Her impressive solo upstaged the entire choir performance.
  • He accidentally upstaged his co-star during the play.
  • The flashy presentation upstaged the actual product demo.

Translations

Translations of the word "upstaged" in other languages:

🇵🇹 ofuscado

🇮🇳 पश्चात्ताप

🇩🇪 in den Schatten gestellt

🇮🇩 tertinggalkan

🇺🇦 затьмарений

🇵🇱 przyćmiony

🇯🇵 影に隠れた

🇫🇷 éclipsé

🇪🇸 opacado

🇹🇷 gölgede kalmış

🇰🇷 그늘에 가려진

🇸🇦 مُظَلَّل

🇨🇿 převyšovaný

🇸🇰 prekonaný

🇨🇳 被遮蔽

🇸🇮 zasenčen

🇮🇸 skugga

🇰🇿 кедергі келтірілген

🇬🇪 დაფარული

🇦🇿 kölgəyə salınmış

🇲🇽 opacado

Etymology

The term 'upstage' originates from the theatrical jargon, specifically from the 19th century. The word is derived from the word 'stage', referencing the physical space where performances take place, and the prefix 'up-', which indicates a position that is higher or more prominent. In theater, the area toward the back of the stage is considered to be 'upstage', which is literally higher than the front, due to the slant of the stage. Consequently, if an actor moves upstage, they can easily draw the audience’s attention away from those positioned downstage. The concept of upstaging quickly grew beyond its theatrical roots, becoming part of everyday language and applicable to various social situations where one individual might overshadow another.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #36,989, this word is encountered relatively rarely in everyday English. It might appear in literary works or specialized texts but isn't essential for general communication.