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upright Definition

up·right (uprīt′; for adj. and adv., also up rīt)

adjective

  1. standing, pointing, or directed straight up; in a vertical or perpendicular position; erect
  2. honest and just; honorable

Etymology: ME < OE upriht: see up & right

adverb

in an upright position or direction

noun

  1. the state of being upright or vertical
  2. something having an upright position; vertical part or member
    1. upright bass
    2. upright piano
    1. Football either of the two vertical parts extending up from the crossbar of a goal post
    2. one of the two standards supporting the crossbar in the high jump or pole vault

upright Related Forms

up·right′ly adverb up·right′·ness noun

upright Synonyms

upright

modif.

  1. Vertical

    erect, standing, standing up, on one's feet, perpendicular, sky-pointing, steep, exalted, elevated, plumb, straight, upward, end up, on end, bolt upright, upended.

  2. Honorable

    ethical, moral, virtuous, exalted, straightforward, correct, circumspect, unimpeachable, punctilious, honest, principled, fair, impartial, incorruptible, aboveboard, high-minded, respectable, manly, right.

upright Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • sit: She was sitting bolt upright with her jaw set in a tight line, desperately trying not to laugh.
  • stand: Now pull the string tight, then lie it down, remove the string and stand the arch upright.
  • stay: Other staying upright almost morally obliged have more than.
  • hit: Marco's excellent kick was unlucky to hit the upright.

Adjective modifier

  • left-hand: Then Rommedahl's cross was half-cleared to Danny Murphy, who drilled his shot wide of the left-hand upright.
  • wooden: Beyond this another outermost circle, this time of wooden uprights.
  • left: With Dafydd on the bench, Alex Goode took aim into the sun and caught the wrong side of the left hand upright.
  • rear: The rear uprights and driveshafts were retained from the Griffin.

Modifies a noun

  • posture: Then slowly restore an upright posture, starting at the ankles.
  • piano: His father is bringing round an old upright piano for Gordon.
  • cleaner: Stair Cleaning The hose and tube attachments on your upright cleaner enable you to clean up the stairs.
  • fridge/freezer: I am told that each machine is about the size of a domestic upright fridge/freezer, perhaps a few cms wider.
  • bass: The approach to playing fretless bass is much more like playing upright bass than to fretted bass.
  • slab: The drying chamber, with an inner ring of upright stone slabs, had been cut into the earlier enclosure bank.

Modifying Another Word

morally: God has also been believed to be the ultimate justification for living a loving and morally upright life.

Noun used with modifier

  • bolt: She was sitting bolt upright with her jaw set in a tight line, desperately trying not to laugh.
  • standing: The artist shows Peter Du Cane standing upright with his hand on his hip, looking straight forward.
  • timber: The western tower of the gate was erected around six large timber uprights.

Used with adjective complement

  • sit: Once your baby begins to be able to sit upright they can be carried on your hip.
  • stand: The limbs are not muscular enough to be used for standing upright; bats instead rest hanging upside down.

Browse dictionary entries near upright

  1. uprear
  2. upraise
  3. Uppsala
  4. uppity
  5. uppish
  6. uppermost
  7. uppercut
  8. upperclassman
  9. uppercase
  10. Upper Volta
  1. upright bass
  2. upright piano
  3. uprise
  4. uprising
  5. upriver
  6. uproar
  7. uproarious
  8. uproot
  9. uprouse
  10. UPS