upright

1 of 3

adjective

up·​right ˈəp-ˌrīt 

1

a

: perpendicular, vertical

put the car's seat in the upright position

b

: erect in carriage or posture

c

: having the main axis or a main part perpendicular

upright freezer

2

: marked by strong moral rectitude

an upright citizen

uprightly adverb

uprightness noun

upright

2 of 3

adverb

: vertically upward : in an upright position

stood upright

upright

3 of 3

noun

1

: the state of being upright : perpendicular

a pillar out of upright

2

: something that stands upright

especially : a football goalpost

—usually used in plural

3

: upright piano

Synonyms of upright

Adjective

• honorable
• honest
• ethical
• nice
• true
• good
• decent
• moral

Choose the Right Synonym for upright

upright, honest, just, conscientious, scrupulous, honorable mean having or showing a strict regard for what is morally right.

upright implies a strict adherence to moral principles.

a stern and upright minister

honest stresses adherence to such virtues as truthfulness, candor, or fairness.

known for being honest in business dealings

just stresses conscious choice and regular practice of what is right or equitable.

workers given just compensation

conscientious and scrupulous imply an active moral sense governing all one's actions and painstaking efforts to follow one's conscience.

conscientious in the completion of her assignments

scrupulous in carrying out the terms of the will

honorable suggests a firm holding to codes of right behavior and the guidance of a high sense of honor and duty.

a difficult but honorable decision

Examples of upright in a Sentence

Adjective

Put your seat back in the upright position.

The container should be kept upright to prevent leaks.

Noun

The uprights of the structure were embedded in concrete.

Recent Examples on the Web

Adjective

Soon, the once upright grass blades will begin to grow in the dominant direction the lawn mower travels. —Megan Hughes, Better Homes & Gardens, 24 May 2026

Of course, a solid weighted base also plays a big role in keeping the umbrella upright. —Olivia Young, Travel + Leisure, 23 May 2026

Adverb

The spacecraft plummeted upright into the Indian Ocean under seemingly full control, then toppled over and ignited. —Marcia Dunn, Fortune, 23 May 2026

Then, the giant lawyer puppet slams upright, sending the contestant back to the start. —Sarah Shachat, IndieWire, 19 May 2026

Noun

Give Disney the win for their cavernous reception at the Javits Center, with photo ops, plenty of food stations, and even a beer garden next to uprights where attendees could compete in head to head ball tosses. —Alex Weprin, HollywoodReporter, 18 May 2026

Walking upright may have freed the hands The researchers propose a two-stage explanation for human handedness. —Rupendra Brahambhatt, Interesting Engineering, 16 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

before the 12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Adverb

1590, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1683, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing upright

• sit bolt upright
• upright piano

Rhymes for upright

• affright
• airtight
• albite
• alight
• alright
• aplite
• aright
• bainite
• birthright
• bobwhite
• bornite
• bullfight

Kids Definition

upright

1 of 2 adjective

up·​right ˈəp-ˌrīt 

1

a

: vertical entry 1 sense 2

an upright posture

b

: having the main axis or a main part perpendicular

2

: living by high moral standards : honorable

uprightness noun

upright

2 of 2 noun

1

: an upright or vertical position

2

: something upright