upstage

Etymology

Definitions

1. 1

   The part of a stage that is farthest from the audience or camera.

2. 2

   Toward or at the rear of a theatrical stage.

   • The actor turned and walked upstage.
3. 3

   Away from the audience or camera.

4. ›+ 6 more definitionsshow fewer

   1. 4

      At the rear of a stage.

      • The minimalist play used no upstage scenery.
   2. 5

      Haughty, aloof.

      • If she hasn't time for this or that, if she refuses to make or keep appointments, if her face does not greet all comers with a sweet and charming smile, then the word is passed around that ‘So-and-So is getting high-hat and up-stage.’
   3. 6

      To draw attention away from others, especially on-stage.

      • She only wore that dress to upstage everyone.
      • Although constantly upstaged by Miss Moore's vocal flings, Cary Grant brought the appropriate note of light comedy to his role.
      • Ronald Reagan’s peace plan for Nicaragua, which would have worked to his domestic political advantage even if it had failed, is upstaged by a surprise initiative by five Central American countries.
   4. 7

      To force other actors to face away from the audience by staying upstage.

   5. 8

      To treat snobbishly.

   6. 9

      To restage upward

      To restage upward; to restage (a case of a disease, usually a cancer) to a higher stage than that found at last assessment.

      • Almost one-third of patients were upstaged after re-exploration, three-quarters of whom actually had stage III disease.

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