upstanding

[uhp-stan-ding]

adjective

1. upright; honorable; straightforward.

2. of a fine, vigorous type.

3. erect; erect and tall.

upstanding

/ ʌpˈstændɪŋ /

adjective

1. of good character

2. upright and vigorous in build

3. 1. (in a court of law) a direction to all persons present to rise to their feet before the judge enters or leaves the court

   2. (at a formal dinner) a direction to all persons present to rise to their feet for a toast

Other Word Forms

• upstandingness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of upstanding¹

before 1000; Middle English; Old English upstandende; up-, stand, -ing ²

Example Sentences

Philadelphia sports fans have a bit of a reputation for not always being the most upstanding of citizens.

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As is the case in these mysteries, the upstanding citizens are propped up by a whole lot of lowlifes, but few as fearsome as Scott Shepherd’s chilly construction manager, Allen Murphy.

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Jim Palmer, an upstanding and righteous pitcher and broadcaster, may understand the hypocrisy of baseball’s new embrace of gambling, but it’s still a narrow issue for him.

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A top-notch campus alone does not produce academic achievement — and, conversely, a brilliant teacher and an assiduous student in a one-room schoolhouse can make for an upstanding education.

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"Please be upstanding for the world's most confusing House of Games contestant and Bake Off failure, Self Esteem!"

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