upright

comparative more upright · superlative most upright · alternative obsolete vpright

1. Vertical; erect.

   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

   3 more examples

   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 28, “New Multiple-Unit Stock for Hastings and Watford Services”, in Railway Magazine, page 532

   Upright posture evolved well before an enlarged brain in hominids.

   2006, Neil A. Campbell, Biology: concepts & connections, page 404

   Synonyms: orthograde, surrect

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. figurativelyethicsOf 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. golfHaving 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.

comparative more upright · superlative most upright · alternative obsolete vpright

1. In or into an upright position.

   I was standing upright, waiting for my orders.

   3 more examples

   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

   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

   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

   Synonyms: standing

2. hobbiesOn one's feet (as opposed to in a wheelchair).

   Amputee hockey is played upright.

plural uprights · alternative obsolete vpright

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

   1. ball gamesA 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

   2. American footballThe poles of a field goal post.
   3. slangA leg.
   4. campingA tentpole that holds aloft the center or sides of a tent.

      Coordinate term: ridge

2. Something characterized by verticality.
   1. The state of being vertical or perpendicular.

      Can you fix that? It's out of upright.

   2. informalCharacterized by being awake and out of bed.

      Synonyms: up

   3. A word clued by the successive initial, middle, or final letters of the cross-lights in a double acrostic or triple acrostic.
   4. abbreviationinformalShort for upright bass
   5. abbreviationinformalShort for upright bicycle
   6. abbreviationinformalShort for upright freezer
   7. abbreviationinformalShort for upright piano
   8. abbreviationinformalShort for 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

   9. abbreviationellipsisEllipsis of upright vacuum cleaner.
   10. UKdialectalobsoletehobbiesThe tips of the antlers of a young deer.

present singular third person uprights · participle present uprighting · participle past uprighted · past uprighted · alternative obsolete vpright

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

plural Uprights

1. A surname.