upper

1 of 3

adjective

up·​per ˈə-pər 

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

Adjective

The 49ers’ defensive coordinator, Nate Faanes, found the right lineup combinations in Saturday night’s loss, even without starting defensive linemen Jaylon Johnson and DJ Burgess, the latter being out for the season with an upper-body injury. —Hunter Bailey, Charlotte Observer, 10 Sep. 2025

The upper chamber already advanced its version through a procedural hurdle at the beginning of September, easily clearing the 60-vote filibuster threshold, and teeing up final passage for a future vote. —Rachel Schilke, The Washington Examiner, 10 Sep. 2025

Noun

Sticky rubber outsoles and thick lugs provide great traction, and the ripstop uppers are lightweight and breathable. —Alice Bennett, Travel + Leisure, 11 Sep. 2025

The mesh upper helps your feet breathe while the extra-thick heel protects your feet from chafing or scratching the back of your heel. —Christopher Murray May Earn A Commission If You Buy Through Our Referral Links. This Content Was Created By A Team That Works Independently From The Fox Newsroom., FOXNews.com, 8 Sep. 2025

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

Phrases Containing upper

• fixer-upper
• stand-upper
• stiff upper lip
• the upper crust
• the upper hand
• upper case
• upper class
• upper crust
• upper hand
• upper respiratory
• upper respiratory tract
• upper school

Rhymes for upper

• supper

Kids Definition

upper

1 of 3 adjective

up·​per ˈəp-ər 

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 

: an upper tooth or denture

upper

2 of 2 noun

: a stimulant drug

especially : amphetamine