Upright

Pronunciation

• IPA: /ˈʌpraɪt/

Origin

From Old English upriht, from up + riht ("right"). Compare Dutch oprecht, West Frisian oprjocht.

Full definition of upright

Adjective

1. Vertical; erect.I was standing upright, waiting for my orders.
• 1608, William Shakespeare, The merry Deuill of Edmonton, introduction, lines 1–4Fabell: What meanes the tolling of this fatall chime, // O what a trembling horror Å¿trikes my hart! // My Å¿tiffned haire Å¿tands vpright on my head, // As doe the briÅ¿tles of a porcupine.
• 1782, Fanny Burney, Cecilia; or, Memoirs of an Heiress, volume V, Book X, chapter X: “A Termination”, page 372Supported by pillows, Å¿he Å¿at almoÅ¿t upright.
• 2006, Neil A. Campbell, Biology: concepts & connections, Upright posture evolved well before an enlarged brain in hominids.
2. Greater in height than breadth.
3. (figuratively) Of good morals; practicing ethical values.

Synonyms

• (vertical, erect) surrect obsolete, rare

Adverb

1. in or into an upright position

Noun

1. Any vertical part of a structure, especially one of the goal posts in sports.
• 2011, January 5, Mark Ashenden, Wolverhampton 1 - 0 Chelsea, Chelsea improved, with Salomon Kalou denied by goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and Didier Drogba hitting the upright.
2. A word clued by the successive initial, middle, or final letters of the cross-lights in a double acrostic or triple acrostic.
3. (informal) An upright piano.

Holonyms

• (word clued by successive letters) double acrostic, triple acrostic

Related terms

• upright piano