upper

¹

[uhp-er]

adjective

1. higher, as in place, position, pitch, or in a scale: the upper register of a singer's voice.

   the upper stories of a house;

   the upper register of a singer's voice.

2. superior, as in rank, dignity, or station.

3. (of places) at a higher level, more northerly, or farther from the sea: upper New York State.

   the upper slopes of a mountain;

   upper New York State.

4. Stratigraphy.,  Often Upper denoting a later division of a period, system, or the like.

   the Upper Devonian.

noun

1. the part of a shoe or boot above the sole, comprising the quarter, vamp, counter, and lining.

2. an upper berth.

3. a gaiter made of cloth.

4. Usually uppers

   1. an upper dental plate.

   2. an upper tooth.

5. Informal.,  the higher of two bunks or berths.

upper

²

[uhp-er]

noun

Slang.

1. a stimulant drug, especially an amphetamine.

2. a pleasant or elating experience, person, or situation.

upper

/ ˈʌpə /

adjective

1. higher or highest in relation to physical position, wealth, rank, status, etc

2. (capital when part of a name) lying farther upstream, inland, or farther north

   the upper valley of the Loire

3. (capital when part of a name) geology archaeol denoting the late part or division of a period, system, formation, etc

   Upper Palaeolithic

4. maths (of a limit or bound) greater than or equal to one or more numbers or variables

noun

1. the higher of two objects, people, etc

2. the part of a shoe above the sole, covering the upper surface of the foot

3. extremely poor; destitute

4. informal,  any tooth of the upper jaw

5. Also called (esp US): up. slang,  any of various drugs having a stimulant or euphoric effect Compare downer

upper

1. Being a later or more recent division of the geological or archaeological period named.

2. Compare lower

Word History and Origins

Origin of upper¹

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English; up (adjective), -er ⁴

Origin of upper²

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70; up + -er ¹

Idioms and Phrases

Idioms

1. on one's uppers, reduced to poverty; without sufficient means.

   They are on their uppers but manage to hide the fact from their friends.

More idioms and phrases containing upper

• keep a stiff upper lip
• on one's uppers

Example Sentences

That includes the upper Indus river basin, which serves parts of China, India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan.

From BBC

Maximum temperatures will generally reach the 70s in most of the area with the exception of Central Coast beaches, which will remain in the upper 60s, according to the Weather Service.

From Los Angeles Times

In terms of the social media messaging, the Republicans definitely have the upper hand.

From BBC

Hamby said he believes solutions lie in a compromise between the upper and lower states, but that will require all of them to stop clinging to “their most aggressive and rigid dreamland legal positions.”

From Los Angeles Times

The upper layers of the Earth in the vast Pacific region are split into sections - tectonic plates - which are all moving relative to one another.

From BBC

Related Words

• uppermost