1
a
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
: vertically upward : in an upright position
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
Synonyms
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
Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 13 Apr. 2024
When they are finally cleared for takeoff the lady does not need to be asked to please place her seat in the upright position or to please push her bag under the seat in front of her.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
In addition to adjusting the cabin lights for takeoff and landing, flight attendants will ask passengers to close their tray tables, stow their bags, and return their seats to the upright position — all to create clear pathways to the exits.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2024
An Ergonomics Expert Offers Advice Similar to a century ago, today’s evolutionary biologists continue to puzzle over human upright posture.
—Beth Linker, TIME, 8 Apr. 2024
At the same time, populations that had been colonized and enslaved were held up as posture paradigms for the élite to emulate: the American Posture League rewarded successful students with congratulatory pins that featured an image of an extremely upright Lenape man.
—Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
The massive container ship that struck and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday would be roughly the size of the Eiffel Tower if stood upright.
—Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024
Simply hold the brush upright to define the lips; point it down to fill them in.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 8 Mar. 2024
With upright, arching branches, the shrub matures at 8 feet.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2024
Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024
In another, she's even shown standing upright on the horse, wearing a nude-colored evening gown.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 19 Mar. 2024
Pack the soil tightly around the stem to keep it standing upright.
—Grace Haynes, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2024
Callers initially told the CHP that a driver heading west on I-8 near Mollison Avenue had lost control and gone off the freeway before landing upright on the Mollison on-ramp, said CHP Officer Jared Grieshaber.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2024
Kate is sitting upright in the passenger seat while her mother drives.
—Anna Russell, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2024
Owens treats the swordfish like a steak, so slice each swordfish medallion or steak and set them together upright on the yogurt.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024
When the hot air rises, the balloon is lifted upright.
—Abigail Celaya, The Arizona Republic, 15 Jan. 2024
How does a body stand upright when the world is spinning around it?
—Gia Kourlas, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024
Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
The college acquired 19 Steinway & Sons pianos – 12 grands and seven uprights – at a cost of $1.2 million and now can boast the designation of being a All-Steinway School, officials said.
—Heather McRea, Orange County Register, 4 Apr. 2024
The addition of pedals made steel guitar a country music staple, while blues and jazz musicians adopted the slide guitar, which utilized a similar gliding technique while holding the guitar upright.
—Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
According to his doctors, Rylan experienced a C1 Jefferson type 3 break involving the C1 vertebra, also known as the atlas, that holds the neck upright.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
Chase McLaughlin’s attempt hit of the left upright and the Buccaneers still trailed 10-3 ahead of the two-minute warning.
—Steve Gardner, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2024
Aubrey missed two field goals, both inside 40 years, with one blocked and one off the upright.
—Journal Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2024
An upright, or stand-up, walker can be safe for seniors, with some caution.
—Sarah Bradley, Verywell Health, 12 Mar. 2024
Cohen, the division’s vice president of remote technical operations, immediately texted someone at the league’s broadcasting department about placing cameras inside the uprights.
—Joe Reedy, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2024
Adjective
There is an upright variety that will give you height without becoming overgrown.
—Chris McKeown, The Enquirer, 13 Apr. 2024
When they are finally cleared for takeoff the lady does not need to be asked to please place her seat in the upright position or to please push her bag under the seat in front of her.
—Lizz Schumer, Peoplemag, 10 Apr. 2024
In addition to adjusting the cabin lights for takeoff and landing, flight attendants will ask passengers to close their tray tables, stow their bags, and return their seats to the upright position — all to create clear pathways to the exits.
—Stefanie Waldek, Travel + Leisure, 10 Apr. 2024
An Ergonomics Expert Offers Advice Similar to a century ago, today’s evolutionary biologists continue to puzzle over human upright posture.
—Beth Linker, TIME, 8 Apr. 2024
At the same time, populations that had been colonized and enslaved were held up as posture paradigms for the élite to emulate: the American Posture League rewarded successful students with congratulatory pins that featured an image of an extremely upright Lenape man.
—Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024
The massive container ship that struck and collapsed the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore on Tuesday would be roughly the size of the Eiffel Tower if stood upright.
—Lawrence Richard, Fox News, 28 Mar. 2024
Simply hold the brush upright to define the lips; point it down to fill them in.
—Jenny Berg, Vogue, 8 Mar. 2024
With upright, arching branches, the shrub matures at 8 feet.
—Southern Living Editors, Southern Living, 4 Apr. 2024
Adverb
Relative to its orbit around the sun, the planet spins perfectly upright, like a soldier at attention facing a commanding officer.
—Shi En Kim, Smithsonian Magazine, 16 Apr. 2024
In another, she's even shown standing upright on the horse, wearing a nude-colored evening gown.
—Kathleen Walsh, Glamour, 19 Mar. 2024
Pack the soil tightly around the stem to keep it standing upright.
—Grace Haynes, Southern Living, 11 Mar. 2024
Callers initially told the CHP that a driver heading west on I-8 near Mollison Avenue had lost control and gone off the freeway before landing upright on the Mollison on-ramp, said CHP Officer Jared Grieshaber.
—Karen Kucher, San Diego Union-Tribune, 31 Jan. 2024
Kate is sitting upright in the passenger seat while her mother drives.
—Anna Russell, The New Yorker, 8 Mar. 2024
Owens treats the swordfish like a steak, so slice each swordfish medallion or steak and set them together upright on the yogurt.
—Caron Golden, San Diego Union-Tribune, 13 Mar. 2024
When the hot air rises, the balloon is lifted upright.
—Abigail Celaya, The Arizona Republic, 15 Jan. 2024
How does a body stand upright when the world is spinning around it?
—Gia Kourlas, New York Times, 16 Feb. 2024
Noun
Latex-ite’s 32-inch CSX 900 torch extender, which the company sells on its website for $59.99, keeps you and the cylinder upright but directs the flame down, into the crack.
—Jeanne Huber, Washington Post, 5 Apr. 2024
The college acquired 19 Steinway & Sons pianos – 12 grands and seven uprights – at a cost of $1.2 million and now can boast the designation of being a All-Steinway School, officials said.
—Heather McRea, Orange County Register, 4 Apr. 2024
The addition of pedals made steel guitar a country music staple, while blues and jazz musicians adopted the slide guitar, which utilized a similar gliding technique while holding the guitar upright.
—Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 1 Apr. 2024
According to his doctors, Rylan experienced a C1 Jefferson type 3 break involving the C1 vertebra, also known as the atlas, that holds the neck upright.
—David Chiu, Peoplemag, 27 Mar. 2024
Chase McLaughlin’s attempt hit of the left upright and the Buccaneers still trailed 10-3 ahead of the two-minute warning.
—Steve Gardner, USA TODAY, 22 Jan. 2024
Aubrey missed two field goals, both inside 40 years, with one blocked and one off the upright.
—Journal Sentinel, 7 Jan. 2024
An upright, or stand-up, walker can be safe for seniors, with some caution.
—Sarah Bradley, Verywell Health, 12 Mar. 2024
Cohen, the division’s vice president of remote technical operations, immediately texted someone at the league’s broadcasting department about placing cameras inside the uprights.
—Joe Reedy, USA TODAY, 10 Feb. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'upright.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near upright
Cite this Entry
“Upright.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upright. Accessed 24 Apr. 2024.
Copy CitationKids 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 noun1
: an upright or vertical position
2
: something upright
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