upstanding
Americanadjective
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upright; honorable; straightforward.
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of a fine, vigorous type.
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erect; erect and tall.
adjective
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of good character
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upright and vigorous in build
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(in a court of law) a direction to all persons present to rise to their feet before the judge enters or leaves the court
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(at a formal dinner) a direction to all persons present to rise to their feet for a toast
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Other Word Forms
Etymology
Origin of upstanding
before 1000; Middle English; Old English upstandende; see up-, stand, -ing 2
Explanation
The adjective upstanding is good for describing someone who is a good and honorable person, like your trusted best friend. A person with a reputation for honesty and strong morals can be called upstanding. The word is often paired with citizen, especially when someone's talking about a public or well-known figure: "Everyone knows the high school principal is an upstanding citizen." Its root is Old English, and the earliest meaning was literally "standing up." It wasn't until the 1860's that upstanding gained the meaning of "honest and respectable."
Vocabulary lists containing upstanding
Dear Martin
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Born a Crime
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Here to Stay
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The aftermath leads to revelations about her private life and the secrets of the supposedly upstanding adults in her world.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 31, 2026
Max Cady either validates the paranoia of upstanding men obsessed with protecting or dominating women, or the disdain felt by those whom such men look down upon.
From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026
Jim Bob Duggar attempted a political comeback in 2021 when he ran for a vacated seat in the Arkansas state Senate, leaning on what he believed was his reputation as an upstanding family man.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 26, 2026
Local leaders and families are ordered to identify those they recognise as upstanding citizens.
From Barron's ● Jan. 23, 2026
“I remember him well. A fine upstanding lad he was, and I never could blame Margaret. But it broke my heart to have her go so far.”
From "The Witch of Blackbird Pond" by Elizabeth George Speare
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
