vertical

American  

[vur-ti-kuhl] / ˈvɜr tɪ kəl /

adjective

1. being in a position or direction perpendicular to the plane of the horizon; upright; plumb.

   Antonyms:

   horizontal

2. of, relating to, or situated at the vertex.

3. of or relating to the cranial vertex.

4. Botany.

   1. (of a leaf ) having the blade in a perpendicular plane, so that neither of the surfaces can be called upper or lower.

   2. being in the same direction as the axis; lengthwise.

5. of, constituting, or resulting in vertical combination.

6. of or relating to a product or service from initial planning to sale.

7. of, relating to, or noting a stratified society, nation, etc.

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noun

1. something vertical, as a line or plane.

2. a vertical or upright position.

3. a vertical structural member in a truss.

vertical British  

/ ˌvɜːtɪˈkælɪtɪ, ˈvɜːtɪkəl /

adjective

1. at right angles to the horizon; perpendicular; upright Compare horizontal

   a vertical wall

2. extending in a perpendicular direction

3. at or in the vertex or zenith; directly overhead

4. economics of or relating to associated or consecutive, though not identical, stages of industrial activity

   vertical integration

   vertical amalgamation

5. of or relating to the vertex

6. anatomy of, relating to, or situated at the top of the head (vertex)

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noun

1. a vertical plane, position, or line

2. a vertical post, pillar, or other structural member

Related Words

See upright.

Other Word Forms

• nonvertical adjective
• nonverticality noun
• nonvertically adverb
• nonverticalness noun
• subvertical adjective
• subvertically adverb
• subverticalness noun
• unvertical adjective
• unvertically adverb
• verticalism noun
• verticality noun
• vertically adverb
• verticalness noun

Etymology

Origin of vertical

First recorded in 1550–60; from Latin verticālis, equivalent to vertic- (stem of vertex ) vertex + -ālis -al ¹

Example Sentences

The Los-Gatos-based streamer has been investing in its games vertical since 2021, with mixed results.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 6, 2026

The project appears complex as it requires high structural rigidity and a 62-meters vertical clearance, he reckons.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 3, 2026

The neural network is trained using two complementary diffraction images, one captured with a vertical polarizer and one without.

From Science Daily • Mar. 29, 2026

Thill: One beneficiary in software is going to be vertical applications.

From Barron's • Mar. 27, 2026

I barely had time to fall backward and go into a tuck before I hit the side of a nearly vertical incline and began to tumble.

From "Woodsong" by Gary Paulsen

Related Words

• perpendicular
• steep