upstanding

[ uhp-stan-ding ]
See synonyms for: upstandingupstandingness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. upright; honorable; straightforward.

  2. of a fine, vigorous type.

  1. erect; erect and tall.

Origin of upstanding

1
before 1000; Middle English; Old English upstandende;see up-, stand, -ing2

Other words from upstanding

  • up·stand·ing·ness, noun

Words Nearby upstanding

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use upstanding in a sentence

  • Wildstein looks exactly like how an upstanding and non-political Port Authority official later described him.

  • He's been dead now this many years—a fine upstanding man he was, and ready with his hands as well as his head.

  • The inner circle of Stonehenge consisted of five upstanding trilithons of which the stones came—by popular repute—from Ireland.

    Archaic England | Harold Bayley
  • Shortly he was Corporal Ginsburg—a trim upstanding corporal.

    From Place to Place | Irvin S. Cobb
  • Each gentleman looked in his neighbour's face, and then transferred his glance to the upstanding coachman.

    The Pickwick Papers | Charles Dickens
  • The pauldrons are larger and the upstanding neck-guards more pronounced.

    Armour & Weapons | Charles John Ffoulkes

British Dictionary definitions for upstanding

upstanding

/ (ʌpˈstændɪŋ) /


adjective
  1. of good character

  2. upright and vigorous in build

  1. be upstanding

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

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

Derived forms of upstanding

  • upstandingness, 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