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. See upright piano
   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

Think upright, eye level with your computer, and with your back fully supported.

From Popular-Science

It will usually be a classic upright, without the ability to transform to a handheld, and with very few additional tools or features.

From Popular-Science

Very often back problems are caused by a lack of core stability—your core being the muscles around your abdomen that keep you upright.

From Popular-Science

It provides a base to transfer power between the upper and lower body and gives you the stability to move swiftly and stay upright in unpredictable terrain.

From Outside Online

Instead of lugging a heavy upright vacuum out of the closet, you just pop this one off its wall charger and go to town.

From Popular-Science

As I tried to get upright, I realized with horror that the blood was my own.

From The Daily Beast

He slept in an upright position in a custom armchair, so the reasons for his lying down to sleep are open to speculation.

From The Daily Beast

They look like evil corn silos or upright storm sewers or a trio of escaped steroidal church organ pipes wearing party hats.

From The Daily Beast

So why not keep all passengers in the ‘upright position’ when they fly?

From The Daily Beast

In a dim backroom of a mud hut in Save, 82-year-old Teresa Nyirabutunda sits propped upright in bed by her daughter, Francine.

From The Daily Beast

In shape it is curved, like those things for candles attached to upright pianos, but with a weighted foot to hold it firm.

From Project Gutenberg

Mrs. Ducksmith, who had sat with overwhelmed head in her hands, started bolt upright, and looked at him like one thunderstruck.

From Project Gutenberg

He had a flashlight gun in his right hand, and a photographer's tripod was propped upright between his knees.

From Project Gutenberg

The sick woman had raised herself upright, and was stretching her arms towards them.

From Project Gutenberg

The boiler was of six wrought-iron upright tubes, one within the other.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

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