one-up

[ wuhn-uhp ]
/ ˈwʌnˈʌp /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR one-up ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), one-upped, one-up·ping.

to get the better of; succeed in being a point, move, step, etc., ahead of (someone): They one-upped the competition.

Origin of one-up

First recorded in 1960–65

Words nearby one-up

one-to-one, one-track, one-track mind, one-trick pony, one-two, one-up, one-upmanship, one-way, one-way mirror, one-way ticket, one-woman

Definition for one-up (2 of 2)

one up

adjective

having gained an advantage in some way that betokens success, especially over rivals.
leading an opponent by one point or one scoring unit: The home team was one up on the visitors.
one each; tied at a score of one: The score was one up in the ninth inning.

adverb

Printing. with only one reproduction of a form per sheet or on a given sheet: We must print this job one up.
Journalism. using one more column of space than of type.

Origin of one up

First recorded in 1920–25

Words related to one-up

angle, beguile, bluff, exploit, finagle, finesse, jockey, maneuver, manipulate, operate, play, rig, wangle

Example sentences from the Web for one-up

British Dictionary definitions for one-up

one-up

adjective

informal having or having scored an advantage or lead over someone or something

Idioms and Phrases with one-up

one up

Having an advantage or lead over someone, as in Sara is one up on Jane because she passed algebra in summer school. This expression comes from sports, where it means to be one point ahead of one's opponents. It was transferred to more general use about 1920.