upright

[ uhp-rahyt, uhp-rahyt ]

adjective

1. erect or vertical, as in position or posture.

   Synonyms: vertical, perpendicular, plumb

   Antonyms: horizontal, recumbent

2. raised or directed vertically or upward.
3. adhering to rectitude; righteous, honest, or just:

   an upright person.

   Synonyms: honorable

4. being in accord with what is right:

   upright dealings.

noun

1. the state of being upright or vertical.
2. something standing erect or vertical, as a piece of timber.

   Synonyms: column, pile, pillar, prop, pole

3. an upright piano.
4. Usually uprights. Chiefly Football. the goalposts.

adverb

1. in an upright position or direction; vertically.

verb (used with object)

1. to make upright.

upright

/ ˈʌpˌraɪt /

adjective

1. vertical or erect
2. honest, honourable, or just

adverb

1. vertically

noun

1. a vertical support, such as a stake or post
2. short for upright piano
3. the state of being vertical

verb

1. tr to make upright

Derived Forms

• ˈupˌrightness, noun
• ˈupˌrightly, adverb

Other Words From

• uprightly adverb
• uprightness noun
• non·upright adjective noun
• non·uprightly adverb
• non·uprightness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of upright¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English upriht (cognate with German aufrecht ); up, right

Idioms and Phrases

see bolt upright .

Synonym Study

Upright, erect, vertical, perpendicular imply that something is in the posture of being straight upward, not leaning. That which is upright is in a position corresponding to that of a person standing up: a decaying tree no longer standing upright; an upright piano. Erect emphasizes the straightness of position or posture: proud and erect; A flagpole stands erect. Vertical suggests upward direction, especially along the shortest line from the earth to a level above it: the vertical edge of a door; ornamented by vertical lines. Perpendicular, a term frequently interchangeable with vertical, is used especially in mathematics: the perpendicular side of a right triangle; to erect a perpendicular line from the base of a figure.

Example Sentences

It’s about the only way I’ve been able to stay engaged and remain an upright, arguably functioning human.

From Los Angeles Times

The bottle has an unusual convex base, meaning it cannot stand upright, and it is made of coarse glass, full of tiny air bubbles.

From BBC

Jefferson darted to his teammates on the field as the ball missed the uprights.

From Los Angeles Times

Ms Woods said Mr Skripal was conscious and sat “bolt upright” on a bench, Ms Woods said.

From BBC

Once, after a loss with the Cardinals, he was so upset about the officiating that he sat upright in bed at 3 a.m. convinced he was having a heart attack.

From Los Angeles Times

Related Words

• conscientious
• ethical
• impartial
• noble
• principled
• pure
• righteous
• straightforward
• trustworthy
• upstanding
• virtuous