upright

adjective

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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

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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

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 At 19, after seeing jazz great Charles Mingus at the Guthrie Theater in 1973, Cox decided to seriously pursue upright bass. — Chris Riemenschneider, Star Tribune, "30 essential Black musicians who defined Minnesota's sound," 27 Feb. 2021 Hours were spent ensuring that Toscano-Anderson stepped fluidly into his shot and released it a tad sooner — all while staying balanced and upright. — Connor Letourneau, San Francisco Chronicle, "How Juan Toscano-Anderson gave himself a shot at a long-term future with Warriors," 21 Feb. 2021 It’s among Amazon’s top 10 best-selling upright vacuums thanks to 13,000 shoppers leaving it a five-star rating. — Christina Butan, Health.com, "These Are the 6 Best Vacuum Cleaners to Use If You Have Allergies, According to Reviews," 19 Feb. 2021 As emergency crews were making their way to the scene, a quick-thinking neighbor grabbed a rope-and-pulley system and lowered themselves into the well to keep the woman upright and out of the water. — oregonlive, "80-year-old woman rescued after falling 55 feet down a well in Scotts Mills," 19 Feb. 2021 The Dyson Ball Animal 2 upright vacuum, normally $499.99 and now $379.99 for $120 in savings. — Melissa Lee, USA TODAY, "Dyson vacuum cleaners are up to $120 off at Bed Bath & Beyond right now," 18 Feb. 2021 Robertson, 21, has been dinged for his skating ability, a wonky stride as his legs swing outward and his torso stays upright, but one that is surprisingly useful in making his way around the ice. — Matthew Defranks, Dallas News, "Despite his critics, Stars rookie Jason Robertson is finding ways to contribute at the NHL level," 11 Feb. 2021 Nearly a dozen more musicians, many of them also older adults, joined in on fiddle, mandolin, banjo and upright bass. — New York Times, "In the Ozarks, the Pandemic Threatens a Fragile Musical Tradition," 3 Feb. 2021 Since Black and Decker introduced the Dustbuster in 1979, these small appliances have become as common as full-size upright vacuums. — Roy Berendsohn, Popular Mechanics, "The Best Handheld Vacuums for Cleaning Up Your Home or Workshop," 13 Oct. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Adverb South and Central America sightings describe the chupacabra as a goblinlike humanoid that walks upright on two legs, while sightings in Mexico and the US describe the chupacabra as a canine or doglike creature that walks on all fours. — René A. Guzman, San Antonio Express-News, "The chupacabra lives on in San Antonio's Latino lore, like our Bigfoot or Loch Ness Monster," 24 Feb. 2021 The prosthetic exoskeleton sits bolt upright in a chair, looking as if a robot has stood up, walked away and left part of itself behind. — Larry Greenemeier, Scientific American, "Robot Exoskeletons March in to Link Mind and Body," 13 Oct. 2016 Printed on thick cardstock paper, the cards are displayed upright inside a maple-finish wood block. — Jessica Bennett, Better Homes & Gardens, "Print a Custom Photo Calendar at Walgreens for a Speedy Last-Minute Gift," 22 Dec. 2020 The Raptor engines reignited for braking and the rocket tilted back upright. — Fox News, "SpaceX launches Starship on highest test flight, turns into massive fireball," 10 Dec. 2020 Ford says two mountain bikes can fit upright inside with the rear seats folded, and the Sport's rear window opens separately from the hatch. — Scott Oldham, Car and Driver, "2021 Ford Bronco Sport Badlands Earns the Bronco Name," 7 Dec. 2020 While standard liners take their gripping cues from writing or painting implements, the tapered handle and rounded grip on Bryant’s wand mean it can be grasped upright in a fist. — Rachel Feltman And Jordan Blok, Popular Science, "The 10 most exceptional personal care products from 2020," 4 Dec. 2020 Dawa sits upright in a corner of the emergency room. — New York Times, "The Epicenter," 3 Dec. 2020 Only the teacher sat upright on a bare tree that served as a rudimentary podium. — Joseph Roth, Harper's Magazine, "Christmas in Cochinchina," 24 Nov. 2020 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Look for a lightweight boot with a good, rubbery grip and deep treads to keep your tiny tot standing upright in the snow. — Popsci Commerce Team, Popular Science, "Best snow boots: Trudge confidently through snowfall," 17 Feb. 2021 At the spot where the helicopter went down, a white rose was placed upright in the soil next to rocks piled in a figure eight — 8 is one of two jersey numbers Bryant wore during his 20-year NBA career. — Los Angeles Times, "L.A. pays tribute on anniversary of Kobe Bryant’s death," 26 Jan. 2021 It can also be wheeled away and placed upright in an unused corner of your room. — Nicole Saunders, NBC News, "5 best folding treadmills of 2021: Bowflex, Echelon and more," 14 Jan. 2021 Guests placed stones on the artist often before standing upright and snapping a photograph. — Christopher Mosley, Dallas News, "For 10 hours, Dallas artist lay still to help put 2020 in the past," 30 Dec. 2020 After Wallace’s sack, Ravens kicker Justin Tucker hit the left upright on a 41-yard field-goal attempt. — Mark Inabinett | Minabinett@al.com, al, "Levi Wallace records his first NFL sack in Bills’ playoff victory," 17 Jan. 2021 Unfortunately for the Browns, Cody Parkey hit the left upright on the extra point, his second missed extra point in as many weeks. — cleveland, "Baker Mayfield, COVID-19-ravaged Browns miss securing a playoff spot with 23-16 loss to Jets, but can clinch next week," 27 Dec. 2020 After that, hold the candle upright and start twisting to get the final look. — Kelly Allen, House Beautiful, "Bobby Berk's Easy DIY Taper Candle Tutorial Is Martha Stewart-Approved," 23 Dec. 2020 In the 19th century, finding a support system for holding a Christmas tree upright was a challenge. — Helaine Fendelman, Star Tribune, "One-of-a-kind Christmas stand," 22 Dec. 2020

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.

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Last Updated

27 Feb 2021

Cite this Entry

“Upright.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upright. Accessed 6 Mar. 2021.

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More Definitions for upright

upright

adjective

English Language Learners Definition of upright

(Entry 1 of 2)

: positioned to be straight up

—used to describe something that is tall rather than wide

: always behaving in an honest way : having high moral standards

upright

noun

English Language Learners Definition of upright (Entry 2 of 2)

: a board or pole placed in a vertical position to support something

See the full definition for upright in the English Language Learners Dictionary

upright

adjective

up·right | \ ˈəp-ˌrīt

Kids Definition of upright

(Entry 1 of 2)

1 : vertical entry 1 an upright post

2 : straight in posture

3 : having or showing high moral standards

upright

adverb

Kids Definition of upright (Entry 2 of 2)

: in or into a vertical position … careful to keep it upright, he held a wooden object above their heads.— Mary Norton, The Borrowers

Choose the Right Synonym for upright

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.