: the chiefly northerly sections of a state
also
: the chiefly rural part of a state when the major metropolitan area is in the south
Examples of upstate in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
He was then returned to New York, where he is being held upstate.
—
Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 2 July 2025
Anne grew up in occasionally unpleasant circumstances in a small upstate New York town.
—Allen Salkin, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2025
Meanwhile on Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced that New York state will build the nation’s first major nuclear power facility since 2009, to be located upstate.
—Kristina Karisch, The Hill, 24 June 2025
An upstate wedding is relatively humble compared to Harry’s place.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for upstate
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Emma Seiwell, New York Daily News, 2 July 2025
Anne grew up in occasionally unpleasant circumstances in a small upstate New York town.
—Allen Salkin, HollywoodReporter, 18 June 2025
Meanwhile on Monday, Gov. Kathy Hochul (D) announced that New York state will build the nation’s first major nuclear power facility since 2009, to be located upstate.
—Kristina Karisch, The Hill, 24 June 2025
An upstate wedding is relatively humble compared to Harry’s place.
—Adriane Quinlan, Curbed, 16 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for upstate
Cite this Entry
“Upstate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upstate. Accessed 14 Jul. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
upstate
adjective
up·state
ˈəp-ˌstāt 
: of, relating to, or typical of a part of a state away from a large city and especially to the north
upstate
noun or adverb
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