upper

1 of 3

adjective

up·​per ˈə-pər How to pronounce upper (audio)
1
a
: higher in physical position, rank, or order
the upper lip
upper management
b
: farther inland
the upper Mississippi
2
: constituting the branch of a bicameral legislature that is usually smaller and more restricted in membership and possesses greater traditional prestige than the lower house
3
a
: constituting a stratum relatively near the earth's surface
b
capitalized : being a later epoch or series of the period or system named
Upper Cretaceous
Upper Paleolithic
4
: northern
upper Manhattan

upper

2 of 3

noun (1)

: one that is upper: such as
a
: the parts of a shoe or boot above the sole
b
: an upper tooth or denture
c
: an upper berth

upper

3 of 3

noun (2)

1
: a stimulant drug
especially : amphetamine
2
: something that induces a state of good feeling or exhilaration
Phrases
on one's uppers
: in straitened circumstances : destitute

Examples of upper in a Sentence

Adjective upper and lower front teeth the wing's upper and lower surfaces the ship's upper and lower decks Who will sleep on the upper berth? The upper stories are occupied by offices. the upper layer of the Earth's crust temperatures in the mid to upper 20s Write your name on the upper left-hand corner of the page. relief of upper back pain the mountain's upper and lower slopes
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adjective
If all goes according to plan, the rocket's upper stage, or ship, will travel halfway around the world from Starbase, reaching an altitude of more than 100 miles before reentering the atmosphere over the Indian Ocean. John Timmer, ArsTechnica, 22 May 2025 At the upper levels — EPs and showrunners — 56.9% are white and 25.2% are BIPOC. Gene Maddaus, Variety, 22 May 2025
Noun
Simpson’s heels feature a lofty platform with a sky-high block heel and are held in place by multiple straps across the upper. Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 19 May 2025 The uppers are made from a woven fabric that keeps the feet snugly in place without discomfort, while the brand’s Helion superfoam insoles provide responsive bounce that propels you forward with every step. Merrell Readman, Travel + Leisure, 17 May 2025 See All Example Sentences for upper

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English, comparative of up entry 2

Noun (2)

up + -er entry 2

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Noun (1)

1789, in the meaning defined above

Noun (2)

circa 1968, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of upper was in the 14th century

Cite this Entry

“Upper.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upper. Accessed 28 May. 2025.

Kids Definition

upper

1 of 3 adjective
up·​per ˈəp-ər How to pronounce upper (audio)
1
: higher in physical position, rank, or order
the upper lip
upper management
2
: being the smaller and more restricted branch of a two-house legislature
3
capitalized : of, relating to, or being a later geologic period or formation
the Upper Cretaceous period
4
: being toward the interior : further inland
the upper Amazon
5
: northern
upper New York state

upper

2 of 3 noun
1
: the parts of a shoe or boot above the sole
2
: an upper tooth or set of teeth
3
: an upper berth

upper

3 of 3 noun
: a stimulant drug
especially : amphetamine

Medical Definition

upper

1 of 2 noun
up·​per ˈəp-ər How to pronounce upper (audio)
: an upper tooth or denture

upper

2 of 2 noun
: a stimulant drug
especially : amphetamine

More from Merriam-Webster on upper

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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