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
In one corner of an upper floor of the Commons on the Universal Lot a coffee counter has been erected that looks like the café where Carey Mulligan’s character works in Emerald Fennel’s Promising Young Woman, and baristas hand out espresso and drip coffees. Mia Galuppo, HollywoodReporter, 22 Oct. 2025 In the metro, folks can expect temperatures around 70 degrees on Wednesday and the mid- to upper 60s on Thursday. Kansas City Star, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
The upper of the shoes is made from a rich suede in a burgundy wine color, which adds texture to the heels and serves as the backdrop for the colorful beaded spikes. Karla Rodriguez, Footwear News, 21 Oct. 2025 In the Ishiba administration, the LDP suffered heavy electoral losses, losing its majority in both the upper and the lower house. Lim Hui Jie, CNBC, 21 Oct. 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 23 Oct. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!