up-and-comingadj.
/ˌʌp(ə)n(d)ˈkʌmɪŋ/, U.S. /ˌəpənˈkəmɪŋ/ 1. U.S. Active, alert, wide-awake, energetic.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > manner of action > vigour or energy > [adjective] > brisk or active
sprindeOE
whata1000
braga1350
prestc1390
yarea1400
stirringc1400
startingc1440
actious1441
actuala1470
activea1522
queemc1540
skeetc1540
lively1567
alive-like1582
pragmatical1590
spruce1590
agilious1599
brisk1599
sprightly?c1599
brisky1600
alives-like1601
alacrious1602
smart1602
eyebright1603
whisking1611
deedy1615
vibrant1616
sprunt1631
perking1653
alert1654
exilient1654
alacrative1657
eveillé1676
budge1691
jaunty1705
spry1746
sprack1747
alive1748
high-geared1795
rash1805
spicy1828
live1830
deedful1834
yary1855
sprucy1858
alacritous1859
sprackish1882
brash1884
up-and-coming1889
up and doing1901
loose1907
bright-eyed and bushy-tailed1936
buzzy1978
1889 Harper's Mag. Dec. 146/2 Can't you hear just how up an' comin' it was?
1901 Harper's Mag. 102 678/1 She had an up and coming kind of way with her.
1906 Springfield Weekly Republ. 20 Sept. 1 It was a rattling and up-and-coming convention, with enthusiasm and noise to compare with a national convention.
1926 F. N. Hart Bellamy Trial i. 10 Redfield's pretty up and coming for a place of its size.
1946 R. Lehmann Gipsy's Baby and Other Stories 59 They are of course admitting the blond curls of my brother; perhaps the juicy, up and coming appearance of all the four. Jolly-looking family.
1954 P. G. Wodehouse Jeeves & Feudal Spirit ii. 20 His attitude towards me had been that of an official at Borstal told off to keep an eye on a more than ordinarily up-and-coming juvenile delinquent.
2. Promising, making progress, beginning to achieve success. Originally U.S.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > [adjective] > rising in prosperity, power, or rank
rising1570
coming1845
up-and-coming1926
fast track1968
1926 R. Hughes in Cosmopolitan Feb. 44/1 The up-and-coming young prize-fighter ‘Curly’ Boyle.
1950 G. Hackforth-Jones Worst Enemy i. 19 Next to Meriton I would have placed Peters (on his reports) as a most up-and-coming youngster.
1959 ‘R. Simons’ Houseboat Killings vi. 67 ‘He's one of our up-and-coming young men.’ ‘Oh. So he is a successful artist?’
1977 B. Pym Quartet in Autumn xviii. 161 Their fashionable little house in that up-and-coming district by the common.
Derivatives
up-and-ˈcomer n. an up-and-coming person.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > [noun] > rise in prosperity, power, or rank > one who is rising in rank or prosperity
riser1574
up-and-comer1944
1944 Gen 9 Sept. 24/2 I've named only a few of the up-and-comers.
1968 T. Stoppard Real Inspector Hound (1970) 40 Ah—yes—well, I like to give young up and comers the benefit of my—er—of course, she lacks technique as yet—.
1982 ‘W. Haggard’ Mischief-makers vi. 77 He's one of their up-and-comers.
up-and-ˈcomingness n.
ΘΚΠ
the world > action or operation > prosperity > advancement or progress > [noun] > rise in prosperity, power, or rank > state or condition of
up-and-comingness1890
1890 Advance (Chicago) 24 Apr. There is about our Methodist brethren..an up-and-a-comingness..that [is]..delightful.
This entry has not yet been fully updated (first published 1933; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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adj.1889