upstanding

American  

[uhp-stan-ding] / ʌpˈstæn dɪŋ /

adjective

1. upright; honorable; straightforward.

2. of a fine, vigorous type.

3. erect; erect and tall.

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upstanding British  

/ 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

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Other Word Forms

• upstandingness noun

Etymology

Origin of upstanding

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

Example Sentences

Flashbacks illustrate who Gacy’s victims were to the people who knew and loved them, landing on the more sensitive and sensible view that they saw Gacy as trustworthy, upstanding, and therefore unthreatening.

From Salon

None of us gets out without doing some damage to someone else’s heart, no matter how upstanding we think we may be.

From Salon

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

From Los Angeles Times

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.

From Salon

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.

From Salon