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

From acrylic tubes designed to help makeup brushes stand upright on display to narrow carts that keep my daily essentials handy in my quaint New York City bathroom. —Kiana Murden, Vogue, 14 Mar. 2025

Tired of lugging out your heavy upright vacuum every time your pet drags in dirt or a few crumbs make their way onto the kitchen floor? —Maggie Horton, People.com, 11 Mar. 2025

Adverb

Males have brown heads, white throats and breasts, gray-and-white backs and long tails that are held upright. —Matt Kracht, People.com, 11 Mar. 2025

The bedroom is situated on the opposite side of the tiny house to the living room and, since the layout is all on one level, has ample headroom to stand upright. —Adam Williams, New Atlas, 10 Mar. 2025

Noun

His 79th-minute header from Andy Robertson’s free kick beat goalkeeper Gianluigi Donnarumma but cannoned off the upright and across the face of the goal with no Liverpool player able to follow up, and the Premier League leaders ended up losing the last-16 tie in a penalty shootout. —Andy Jones, The Athletic, 13 Mar. 2025

Water sprouts are fast-growing upright stems that appear after major pruning. —Luke Miller, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 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

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