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. Chiefly Football.,  Usually uprights. 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

Other Word Forms

• uprightly adverb
• uprightness noun
• nonupright adjective
• nonuprightly adverb
• nonuprightness 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

The building is on its last legs, struggling to remain upright in the earthquake.

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She spoke more confidently now that she was upright and could breathe properly.

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He ran and stood in front of the mirror with a wet comb and slicked his hair around in different ways, but it always reverted to its natural upright position.

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She sported the set jaw and formidably upright posture that every Swanburne graduate learned in a required class called A Swanburne Girl Knows How to Make Her Point.

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It is black and white and fluffy and fuzzy, and it walks upright, unassisted—which is odd for a teddy bear of any species or size.

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Related Words

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