upright

adjective

up·right | \ ˈəp-ˌrīt

Definition of upright

(Entry 1 of 3)

1a : perpendicular, vertical

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

upright

adverb

Definition of upright (Entry 2 of 3)

: vertically upward : in an upright position

upright

noun

Definition of upright (Entry 3 of 3)

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

Other Words from upright Synonyms & Antonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about upright

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Choose the Right Synonym for upright

Adjective

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

Adjective

upright, honest, and just mean having or showing a great concern for what is right. upright means having high moral standards in all areas of life. She's an upright person and an example to us all. honest means dealing with others in a fair and truthful way. He is an honest merchant who wouldn't cheat anyone. just is used when a person's fairness comes from both conscious choice and habit. The principal is just to all students.

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

The defining feature of this option is that the trunk is upright. — Leon Straker, Quartz at Work, "The best way to sit at your desk for every type of work task," 5 June 2019 In this positioning, your chest should be upright and your back completely flat. — Jenny Mccoy, SELF, "Strengthen Your Legs and Butt With These 2 Bodyweight Exercises From Celebrity Trainer Jeanette Jenkins," 15 Aug. 2018 The driver was able to pull Meister back in as the truck flipped upright and slowly rolled to a stop. — Madeline Farber, Fox News, "Indiana man survives internal decapitation years after beating brain cancer: 'Our boy is a miracle'," 3 Aug. 2018 Machines tilt walls upright and move them on a conveyor to stations where workers briskly add wiring, pipes and windows. — Paul Davidson, USA TODAY, "With construction workers scarce, homebuilders turn to robots, software," 25 June 2018 Pedal wisely Cyclists should cross streetcar tracks as upright and close to a 90-degree angle as possible, and avoid riding bikes between the tracks. — Mary Spicuzza, Milwaukee Journal Sentinel, "Hop safely: Milwaukee releases tips for driving, walking and biking near 'The Hop' streetcars," 20 June 2018 So stand upright and use your own musculature to hold yourself erect. — NBC News, "How to prevent neck and back pain when traveling," 13 June 2018 Pictures released by police showed one deer, upright and gazing straight ahead, with an arrow shot almost all the way through the base of its neck. — Amy B Wang, Washington Post, "Deer in Oregon are walking around with arrows stuck in them. Police want to find the culprit.," 29 Apr. 2018 Eight volunteers walked back and forth in both upright and stooped postures, with bent knees and hips. — David Grossman, Popular Mechanics, "New Study: Human Ancestors Walked on Two Legs at Least 3.6 Million Years Ago," 24 Apr. 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb

When eating, do not stick your chopsticks upright in your bowl of rice, because this is the symbol of two burning joss sticks used for funerals. — National Geographic, "See Hanoi like a Nat Geo Explorer," 26 Mar. 2019 Another image shows an International Harvester tractor still upright in the aircraft hangar. — Kyle Mizokami, Popular Mechanics, "Explorers Discover the Wreck of the Aircraft Carrier USS Hornet, Sunk in World War II," 12 Feb. 2019 The user sits upright in the tub for a deep soak (like a hot tub) and can watch TV or have a beverage while soaking. — Ed Del Grande, The Seattle Times, "Explore the depths of comfort with a cube tub," 19 Feb. 2019 The move takes you from lying on the floor to standing upright, all while holding a kettlebell above your head. — Amy Marturana, SELF, "How to Do a Turkish Get-up," 8 Feb. 2019 Suddenly, my guide sat bolt upright and pointed downstream. — Austin Merrill, WSJ, "The Amazon: The Heart of the World," 3 Dec. 2018 Adding a set of wheels to the bottom of your shoes, which could start and stop unpredictably, may make staying upright a challenge. — Ron Amadeo, Ars Technica, "Forget VR treadmills—Google patents motorized, omnidirectional VR sneakers," 19 Nov. 2018 Cages Cylindrical or square wire cages keep tomatoes upright without the need for tying the stems. — Doug Hall, Good Housekeeping, "The 4 Best Ways to Support Your Tomato Plants," 19 July 2018 Like most vertical rockets, the New Shepard is designed to take off upright from a launchpad at Blue Origin’s facilities in West Texas. — Loren Grush, The Verge, "Blue Origin will push its rocket ‘to its limits’ with high-altitude emergency abort test today," 18 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

His kick floated just inside the upright to give the Legion a thrilling 24-22 victory in front of a crowd of more than 4,000. — Griff Lacey / San Diego Legion, San Diego Union-Tribune, "Legion win in closing seconds, will host MLR championship match," 9 June 2019 Alex Pietrangelo almost doubled the Blues’ 1–0 lead but David Krejci, sliding upright across the crease, plugged an open net and made the save of the night with six seconds left in the period. — Dan Falkenheim, SI.com, "Blues Survive Bruins' Late Flurry to Take Game 5, Series Lead," 6 June 2019 To transport the debris, Fiskars’s 30-gallon Kangaroo garden bag has an internal spring to keep the bag upright and the mouth wide open. — Henry Robertson, Popular Mechanics, "The Best Brush Clearing Tips and Equipment," 19 Apr. 2019 Then stand the root upright and remove the skin with the knife, working from top-to-bottom. — Karen Shimizu, Good Housekeeping, "9 Surprisingly Simple Ways To Eat Rutabaga—The Cancer-Fighting, Low-Carb Alternative To Potatoes," 1 Feb. 2017 Being able to gradually go from sitting upright, to laying down watching movies, to eventually sleeping was a game-changer. — Alyssa Fiorentino, House Beautiful, "What It's Really Like To Fly Business Class With Emirates," 21 May 2019 This model might be preferable if the thought of resting your new iPhone upright against a charging pad without having anything to secure it in place isn’t to your liking. — Jon Porter, The Verge, "Belkin’s Boostup wireless dock can charge three Apple devices at once," 24 Sep. 2018 Store your fitted sheet upright, in a storage container or linen closet, alongside your other bedding. — Heather Finn, Good Housekeeping, "Here's Exactly How to Fold a Fitted Sheet, According to Marie Kondo," 8 Feb. 2019 This upright, fast-grower makes a neat, narrow hedge or accent with its columnar shape. — Arricca Sansone, Country Living, "20 Best Boxwood Shrubs to Plant in Your Garden," 14 Feb. 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'upright.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.