upstage

Meaning

Noun

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

Adv

1. Toward or at the rear of a theatrical stage.
2. Away from the audience or camera.

Adj

1. At the rear of a stage.
2. (figuratively, obsolete) Haughty, aloof.

Verb

1. (figuratively, transitive) To draw attention away from others, especially on-stage.
2. (transitive) To force other actors to face away from the audience by staying upstage.
3. (broadly, transitive) To treat snobbishly.
4. (transitive) To restage upward; to restage (a case of a disease, usually a cancer) to a higher stage than that found at last assessment.

Opposite of

downstage

Synonyms

aloof

distant

final stage

outdo

outshine

overshadow

shadow

stuck-up

uppish

steal the show

last stage

toffee-nosed

output stage

back part of stage

Translations

Emporkömmling

eclipsar

υπεροπτικός

eclipsar

ombrager

arrogant

überschatten

éclipser

entacher

hautain

distant

haitainement

reléguer au second plan

surpasser en éclat

al fons de l’escenari

Pronounced as (IPA)

/ʌpˈsteɪd͡ʒ/

Etymology

From up- + stage. The figurative uses “haughty” and “to draw attention away” derive from actors moving to a higher and thus more visible position on a sloped stage.