upright

[uhp-rahyt, uhp-rahyt]

adjective

1. erect or vertical, as in position or posture.

   Synonyms: vertical, perpendicular, plumb
   Antonyms: horizontal, recumbent

2. raised or directed vertically or upward.

3. adhering to rectitude; righteous, honest, or just.

   an upright person.

   Synonyms: honorable

4. being in accord with what is right.

   upright dealings.

noun

1. the state of being upright or vertical.

2. something standing erect or vertical, as a piece of timber.

   Synonyms: column, pile, pillar, prop, pole

3. an upright piano.

4. Chiefly Football.,  Usually uprights. the goalposts.

adverb

1. in an upright position or direction; vertically.

verb (used with object)

1. to make upright.

upright

/ ˈʌpˌraɪt /

adjective

1. vertical or erect

2. honest, honourable, or just

adverb

1. vertically

noun

1. a vertical support, such as a stake or post

2. short for upright piano

3. the state of being vertical

verb

1. (tr) to make upright

Other Word Forms

• uprightness noun
• uprightly adverb
• nonupright adjective
• nonuprightly adverb
• nonuprightness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of upright¹

First recorded before 900; Middle English, Old English upriht (cognate with German aufrecht ); up, right

Idioms and Phrases

see bolt upright.

Synonym Study

Upright, erect, vertical, perpendicular imply that something is in the posture of being straight upward, not leaning. That which is upright is in a position corresponding to that of a person standing up: a decaying tree no longer standing upright; an upright piano. Erect emphasizes the straightness of position or posture: proud and erect; A flagpole stands erect. Vertical suggests upward direction, especially along the shortest line from the earth to a level above it: the vertical edge of a door; ornamented by vertical lines. Perpendicular, a term frequently interchangeable with vertical, is used especially in mathematics: the perpendicular side of a right triangle; to erect a perpendicular line from the base of a figure.

Example Sentences

How the Chargers can win: Keep Herbert upright, as the Chiefs will look to exploit the reshuffled offensive line.

From Los Angeles Times

“Nowhere Is Where” is silent but lethal, Price’s gorgeously textured voice over an acoustic guitar, small harmonies on the chorus, an upright bass over in the corner, a fiddle underscoring the anguish.

From Salon

The flavors, previously muddied, began to stand upright and speak.

From Salon

In fact, trying to hold yourself bolt upright all day could do more harm than good, he told Morning Live.

From BBC

During “Southern Man,” Micah Nelson walked over to an old, battered upright piano and admirably acquitted himself in the shading and spirit of Nils Lofgren’s work on the original.

From Salon

Related Words

• conscientious 
• ethical 
• impartial 
• noble 
• principled 
• pure 
• righteous 
• straightforward 
• trustworthy 
• upstanding 
• virtuous