upright

1 of 3

adjective

up·​right ˈəp-ˌrīt 

1

a

: 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

uprightly adverb

uprightness noun

upright

2 of 3

adverb

: vertically upward : in an upright position

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

Adjective

• all right
• decent
• ethical
• good
• honest
• honorable
• just
• moral
• nice
• right
• right-minded
• righteous
• straight
• true
• virtuous

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

The 23-year-old is physically larger and stockier than his counterparts, with his dribbling style idiosyncratically upright. —The Athletic Uk Staff, The Athletic, 24 Jan. 2025

Each upright blackberry stem produces fruit only one time. —Neil Sperry, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Jan. 2025

Adverb

The man jolted upright and looked at Lidia, furious now for the first time. —Samanta Schweblin, The New Yorker, 26 Jan. 2025

When its field goal attempt bounced off the left upright and fell harmlessly to the turf minutes later, the celebration continued inside a stadium dominated by a palette of fans dressed in Ohio State’s scarlet and gray. —Andrew Greif, NBC News, 21 Jan. 2025

Noun

By the time Jayden Fielding’s chip-shot field goal creased the uprights to give Ohio State an insurmountable 11-point lead, fans were closing out their tabs with one last round of shots. —Justin Williams, The Athletic, 21 Jan. 2025

Mitch Jeter’s kick was subsequently rejected hard by the left upright, doinking to the turf. —Andrew Greif, NBC News, 21 Jan. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Adjective

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

Adverb

12th century, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1683, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing upright

• sit bolt upright
• upright piano

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