upright

1. 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.

OTHER WORDS FROM upright

uprightly, adverbuprightness, nounnon·up·right, adjective, nounnon·up·right·ly, adverb

non·up·right·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use upright in a sentence

Years ago, Domokos had won renown by proving the existence of the Gömböc, a curious three-dimensional shape that swivels into an upright resting position no matter how you push it.
Scientists Uncover the Universal Geometry of Geology|Joshua Sokol|November 19, 2020|Quanta Magazine
He learned the flute and the upright bass — using fishing line for the strings — from other uncles, and his father taught him to play the tres, a small Cuban guitar.
Candido Camero, ‘father of modern conga drumming,’ dies at 99|Matt Schudel|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
Store your toothbrush upright in a cool, dry place to prevent bacteria from growing.
When to replace smoke detectors, sponges, pillows and more, according to experts|Daniel Bortz|November 10, 2020|Washington Post
These qualities are not only essential for Nordies but anyone who wants to move fast, stay upright, and play outside in unpredictable terrain.
Jessie Diggins's Killer 8-Minute Core Workout|Hayden Carpenter|October 30, 2020|Outside Online

Make sure each can is sitting upright on the canning rack, and keep at least a half an inch of space between each jar.
How to can your favorite foods without dying|Rachel Feltman|October 13, 2020|Popular-Science
To live at all, he must run in debt; and to his uprightness debt seemed little less than a crime.
Dorothy at Skyrie|Evelyn Raymond
No man was more highly respected for unswerving integrity, and uprightness of purpose, than Robert Banks, of Detroit.
The Condition, Elevation, Emigration, and Destiny of the Colored People of the United States|Martin R. Delany
This may have its difficulties at a future day; but I make none, knowing the uprightness of my intentions.
The Life of Nelson, Vol. I (of 2)|A. T. (Alfred Thayer) Mahan
I felt what I owed to the daughter, whose steadfast uprightness was a perfect contrast to the base monoeuvres of the mother.
The Confessions of J. J. Rousseau, Complete|Jean Jacques Rousseau
I have always considered M. de Malesherbes as a man whose uprightness was proof against every temptation.
The Confessions of J. J. Rousseau, Complete|Jean Jacques Rousseau

British Dictionary definitions for upright

upright

/ (ˈʌpˌraɪt) /

adjective

vertical or erect

honest, honourable, or just

adverb

vertically

noun

a vertical support, such as a stake or post

short for upright piano

the state of being vertical

verb

(tr) to make upright

Derived forms of upright

uprightly, adverbuprightness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Other Idioms and Phrases with upright

upright

see bolt upright.

upright

OTHER WORDS FOR upright

OPPOSITES FOR upright

Origin of upright

synonym study for upright

OTHER WORDS FROM upright

Words related to upright

How to use upright in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for upright

Derived forms of upright

Other Idioms and Phrases with upright