From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishupstageup‧stage1 /ʌpˈsteɪdʒ/ verb [transitive] BETTERto do something that takes people’s attention away from someone else who is more important All the big-name stars were upstaged by 12-year-old Katy Rochford.→ See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
upstage• Both beauties have refused offers to team them together in a film since neither wants to be upstaged.• Their grand Venetian launch was not being upstaged.• Meanwhile, speculation over Barkley upstaged a Spurs triumph that was as impressive as it was convincing.• Graham relished the opportunity to upstage Chelsea and found in the talented Russell the width to dominate the game from midfield.• Not content with ruining Princess Anne's week by upstaging her wedding announcement, they had to go one dramatic step further.• Jake was furious when Marley and Jamie upstaged him at his own wedding.• And at training Paul Gascoigne upstaged that prank after being warned there could be some standing around in chilly weather.upstageupstage2 adverb APTtowards the back of the stage in a theatre OPP downstage —upstage adjectiveExamples from the Corpus
upstage• He enters upstage, makes a small arc and leaves by the same side, a few feet downstage.• The lid opened upstage so all the sound was thrown up the back wall. 