Definition of one-upmanship : the art or practice of outdoing or keeping one jump ahead of a friend or competitor engaged in a round of verbal one-upmanship First Known Use of one-upmanship 1952, in the meaning defined above
One-upmanship definition, the art or practice of achieving, demonstrating, or assuming superiority in one's rivalry with a friend or opponent by obtaining privilege, status, status symbols, etc.: the one-upmanship of getting into the president's car pool. See more.
Define one-upmanship. one-upmanship synonyms, one-upmanship pronunciation, one-upmanship translation, English dictionary definition of one-upmanship. also one-ups·man·ship n. Informal The art of outdoing or showing up a rival or competitor, as in exploits, privileges, or honors. n informal the art or...
(also one-upsmanship, us / ?w?n??ps·m?n???p /) an effort to show that you are better than someone you are competing with: We heard the usual boasting and one-upsmanship before …