Dictionary

upright en · ADJ

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈʌpɹaɪt/

Etymology

From Middle English upright, uppryght, upriht, from Old English upriht (“upright; erect”), from Proto-Germanic *upprehtaz, equivalent to up- + right. Cognate with Saterland Frisian apgjucht (“upright”), West Frisian oprjocht (“upright”), Dutch oprecht (“upright”), German Low German uprecht (“upright”), German aufrecht (“upright”), Swedish upprätt (“upright”), Icelandic uppréttur (“upright”).

Meanings

1. Vertical; erect.
   • Upright posture evolved well before an enlarged brain in hominids. 2006, Neil A. Campbell, Biology: concepts & connections, page 404:
   • Supported by pillows, ſhe ſat almoſt upright. 1782, Fanny Burney, Cecilia; or, Memoirs of an Heiress, volume V, Book X, chapter X: “A Termination”, page 372
   • Fab[ell]: What meanes the tolling of this fatall chime, // O what a trembling horror ſtrikes my hart! // My ſtiffned haire ſtands vpright on my head, // As doe the briſtles of a porcupine. 1608, William Shakespeare, The merry Deuill of Edmonton, introduction, lines 1-4:
   • Another feature new to British Railways is the provision of two-position adjustable seats in the first class compartments. In this design, the seat squab can be pulled out some six inches, the seat back being attached to the seat to give a less upright sitting position. 1957 August 14, “New Multiple-Unit Stock for Hastings and Watford Services”, in Railway Magazine, page 532:
2. In its proper orientation; not overturned.
   • My brother didn't get angry when his son knocked over the lamp; he simply called the boy over and helped him set it upright again.
3. Greater in height than breadth.
4. (figuratively) Of good morals; reliable and trustworthy; practicing ethical values.
   • There was a man in the land of Uz, whose name was Job; and that man was perfect and upright, and one that feared God, and eschewed evil. 1611, The Holy Bible, […] (King James Version), London: […] Robert Barker, […], →OCLC, Job 1:1:
5. (of a golf club) Having a head at approximately a right angle with the shaft.
6. Characterized by a style of running with the head and shoulders held high.
   • He's an upright runner.

Forms

Coordinates

downhill

Deriveds

upright yellow-sorrel · tuppenny upright · unupright · uprightness · uprightly · upright bassist · upright man · uprightish · upright bass · nonupright · semiupright · uprighteous · bolt upright

Synonyms

surrect (vertical, erect) · orthograde (vertical, erect)

Translations (72)

bcl matadong (of good morals) · ca dret (vertical; erect) · es erguido (vertical; erect) · grc ὀρθός (vertical; erect) · mi tūtika (of good morals) · eu zutik (vertical; erect) · mi matatika (of good morals) · mi tapatahi (of good morals) · uk вертика́льна (vertical; erect) · mi matika (vertical; erect) · eo rektanima (of good morals) · de aufrecht (of good morals) · su ajeg (vertical; erect) · mi torotika (vertical; erect) · pdt steil (vertical; erect) · cs vzpřímený (vertical; erect) · mi tūtika (vertical; erect) · mi takotako (vertical; erect) · id tegak (vertical; erect) · bn খাড়া (vertical; erect) · ar مُسْتَقِيم (of good morals) · bg честен (of good morals) · ru вертикальный (vertical; erect) · fi pysty (vertical; erect) · bg вертикален (vertical; erect) · nl oprecht (vertical; erect) · grc ὀρθός (of good morals) · he עומד (vertical; erect) · de hochkant (greater in height than breadth) · la probus (of good morals) · vo löik (vertical; erect) · sa ऋजु (of good morals) · pt aprumado (vertical; erect) · la ērectus (vertical; erect) · ru прямо́й (vertical; erect) · sa ऊर्ध्व (vertical; erect) · fi oikeamielinen (of good morals) · nl achter elkaar (of good morals) · it dritto (vertical; erect) · nn opprett (vertical; erect) · da højkant (greater in height than breadth) · bg изправен (vertical; erect) · nl achter elkaar (greater in height than breadth) · pt íntegro (of good morals) · nl overeind (greater in height than breadth) · it eretto (vertical; erect) · it onesto (of good morals) · he זקוף (vertical; erect) · it integro (of good morals) · nb opprett (vertical; erect) · qu chiqan (vertical; erect) · ru отве́сный (vertical; erect) · ca recte (of good morals) · it retto (of good morals) · de aufrecht (vertical; erect) · et püsti (vertical; erect) · bg прям (of good morals) · es recto (vertical; erect) · ckb قیت (vertical; erect) · uk вертика́льний (vertical; erect) · cmn 筆直 /笔直 (vertical; erect) · pt ereto (vertical; erect) · cmn 正直 (of good morals) · it virtuoso (of good morals) · eo vertikale (vertical; erect) · as থিয় (vertical; erect) · fi pystysuuntainen (greater in height than breadth) · da opret (vertical; erect) · fr intègre (of good morals) · it in verticale (vertical; erect) · ru че́стный (of good morals) · it in piedi (vertical; erect)

upright en · ADV

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈʌpɹaɪt/

Etymology

From Middle English upright, uppryght, upriht, from Old English upriht (“upright; erect”), from Proto-Germanic *upprehtaz, equivalent to up- + right. Cognate with Saterland Frisian apgjucht (“upright”), West Frisian oprjocht (“upright”), Dutch oprecht (“upright”), German Low German uprecht (“upright”), German aufrecht (“upright”), Swedish upprätt (“upright”), Icelandic uppréttur (“upright”).

Meanings

1. In or into an upright position.
   • For instance, parents were strongly encouraged to delay the introduction of complementary foods to six months when infants were able to sit upright and feed themselves safely. 2016 September 16, “Choking risk for baby-led weaning no different than spoon-feeding”, in CBC News, archived from the original on 19 Nov 2022:
   • Human locomotion had been presumed unique because we walk upright with two legs. When investigators led by Nadia Dominici analyzed the electrical activities produced by walking toddlers, preschoolers, and adults as well as newborns that were held upright and prodded to walk along a surface, however, they saw that we essentially follow the same chain of motor commands as several other animals, including rats, cats, monkeys, and guinea fowl. 2011 November 17, Hans Villarica, “A Rat's First Steps: How Humans and Other Animals Learn to Walk”, in The Atlantic, archived from the original on 09 Mar 2022:
   • I was standing upright, waiting for my orders.
   • Those up for the ride stand upright on a small platform which shoots a powerful jet of water downwards, sending the attached board – which has in the past carried the likes of Leonardo DiCaprio – up into the air. 2014 July 15, Will Coldwell, “Ever wanted to walk on water? Five new aquatic sports for thrill seekers”, in The Guardian, archived from the original on 29 Jun 2022:
2. On one's feet (as opposed to in a wheelchair).
   • Amputee hockey is played upright.

Forms

Synonyms

standing

Translations (14)

eo rekte (in or into an upright position) · et püsti (in or into an upright position) · fi pystyssä (in or into an upright position) · bg изправено (in or into an upright position) · az dikinə (in or into an upright position) · et üles (in or into an upright position) · ru пря́мо (in or into an upright position) · it in piedi (in or into an upright position) · ru стоймя (in or into an upright position) · ru сто́я (in or into an upright position) · ca dempeus (in or into an upright position) · ru вертика́льно (in or into an upright position) · it in posizione verticale (in or into an upright position) · bg отвесно (in or into an upright position)

upright en · NOUN

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈʌpɹaɪt/

Etymology

From Middle English upright, uppryght, upriht, from Old English upriht (“upright; erect”), from Proto-Germanic *upprehtaz, equivalent to up- + right. Cognate with Saterland Frisian apgjucht (“upright”), West Frisian oprjocht (“upright”), Dutch oprecht (“upright”), German Low German uprecht (“upright”), German aufrecht (“upright”), Swedish upprätt (“upright”), Icelandic uppréttur (“upright”).

Meanings

1. Any vertical part of a structure, especially a part that provides support.
   • On the change in architectural forms from the pyramidal to the obeliscar, the fires were transferred from the altars, or cubes, to the summits of the typical uprights, or towers; […] 1942, Reuben Swinburne Clymer, The Philosophy of Fire, page 64:
2. Any vertical part of a structure, especially a part that provides support. ▸ A goal post.
   • Chelsea improved, with Salomon Kalou denied by goalkeeper Wayne Hennessey and Didier Drogba hitting the upright. 2011 January 5, Mark Ashenden, “Wolverhampton 1 - 0 Chelsea”, in BBC:
3. Any vertical part of a structure, especially a part that provides support. ▸ The poles of a field goal post.
4. (slang) Any vertical part of a structure, especially a part that provides support. ▸ A leg.
5. (qualifier:camping) Any vertical part of a structure, especially a part that provides support. ▸ A tentpole that holds aloft the center or sides of a tent.
   • Coordinate term: ridge
6. Something characterized by verticality. ▸ The state of being vertical or perpendicular.
   • Can you fix that? It's out of upright.
7. (informal) Something characterized by verticality. ▸ Characterized by being awake and out of bed.
8. Something characterized by verticality. ▸ A word clued by the successive initial, middle, or final letters of the cross-lights in a double acrostic or triple acrostic.
9. (abbreviation, alt-of, informal) Something characterized by verticality. ▸ Short for upright bass
   alt of upright bass
10. (abbreviation, alt-of, informal) Something characterized by verticality. ▸ Short for upright bicycle
    alt of upright bicycle
11. (abbreviation, alt-of, informal) Something characterized by verticality. ▸ Short for upright freezer
    alt of upright freezer
12. (abbreviation, alt-of, informal) Something characterized by verticality. ▸ Short for upright piano
    alt of upright piano
13. (abbreviation, alt-of, informal) Something characterized by verticality. ▸ Short for upright arcade game cabinet
    alt of upright arcade game cabinet
    • The video arcade machines are typically in stand up arcade cabinets, although some have been built as tables. The uprights have a monitor and controls in front and players insert coins or tokens into the machines to play the game. 2013, Jon Peddie, The History of Visual Magic in Computers, page 181:
14. (abbreviation, alt-of, ellipsis) Something characterized by verticality. ▸ Ellipsis of upright vacuum cleaner.
    alt of upright vacuum cleaner
15. (UK, dialectal, obsolete) Something characterized by verticality. ▸ The tips of the antlers of a young deer.

Forms

Holonyms

double acrostic · triple acrostic

Synonyms

up

Translations (17)

ca muntant (any vertical part of a structure, especially one of the goal posts in sports) · mi turuturu (any vertical part of a structure, especially one of the goal posts in sports) · mi tuturu (any vertical part of a structure, especially one of the goal posts in sports) · es montante (any vertical part of a structure, especially one of the goal posts in sports) · es poste (any vertical part of a structure, especially one of the goal posts in sports) · ru сто́йка (any vertical part of a structure, especially one of the goal posts in sports) · es piano vertical (an upright piano) · mi turupou (any vertical part of a structure, especially one of the goal posts in sports) · ru пиани́но (an upright piano) · ru подпорка (any vertical part of a structure, especially one of the goal posts in sports) · mi tūturu (any vertical part of a structure, especially one of the goal posts in sports) · ru сто́йка во́рот (any vertical part of a structure, especially one of the goal posts in sports) · fr montant (any vertical part of a structure, especially one of the goal posts in sports) · fi tolppa (any vertical part of a structure, especially one of the goal posts in sports) · uk піані́но (an upright piano) · mi turu (any vertical part of a structure, especially one of the goal posts in sports) · ru коло́нна (any vertical part of a structure, especially one of the goal posts in sports)

upright en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /ˈʌpɹaɪt/

Etymology

From Middle English upright, uppryght, upriht, from Old English upriht (“upright; erect”), from Proto-Germanic *upprehtaz, equivalent to up- + right. Cognate with Saterland Frisian apgjucht (“upright”), West Frisian oprjocht (“upright”), Dutch oprecht (“upright”), German Low German uprecht (“upright”), German aufrecht (“upright”), Swedish upprätt (“upright”), Icelandic uppréttur (“upright”).

Meanings

1. (transitive) To set upright or stand back up (something that has fallen).

Forms