upright
gb/ʌpɹˈaɪt/ us/ʌpɹˈaɪt/
A2
English
~ 3800
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Vertical, straight position
Standing straight up, not lying down or leaning.
Usage pattern:
[something] is upright
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'upright' with 'right side up', but 'upright' refers specifically to vertical orientation.
Synonyms
vertical (Emphasizes alignment with the up-and-down axis; more technical in some contexts.)
Antonyms
horizontal (Describes a position parallel to the ground, the opposite of vertical/upright.)
Collocations
stand upright
|keep upright
|remain upright
|upright position
Themes
daily life
|physical orientation
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The vase remained upright despite the strong wind.
- She sat upright in her chair, ready to listen.
- Make sure the ladder is upright before climbing it.
- The statue has stood upright for centuries.
Learner examples
- The box is upright on the floor.
- Please sit upright in your seat.
- The tree is still upright after the storm.
adjective
B1
property
2
Morally good and honest
Behaving in a good and honest way.
Usage pattern:
[someone] is upright
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'upright' in this moral sense with the physical meaning; context determines which is intended.
Synonyms
honorable (Suggests strong moral principles and respect from others.)
Antonyms
corrupt (Describes someone acting dishonestly for personal gain, opposite of morally upright.)
Collocations
upright citizen
|upright character
|an upright man
Themes
morality
|character
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She is known as an upright judge who cannot be bribed.
- He has always been an upright member of the community.
- They want an upright leader who will stand against injustice.
Learner examples
- He is an upright man.
- The upright judge made a fair decision.
- We need an upright leader.
Noun
B2
entity
3
Vertical structural support
A straight post that stands up to hold something.
Synonyms
post (General term for a vertical support, but not always part of a frame.)
Antonyms
beam (Usually refers to a horizontal structural support, opposite in orientation to an upright.)
Collocations
wooden upright
|metal upright
|fence upright
Themes
construction
|furniture
|housing
|work
Examples
- The uprights of the goalpost were painted white.
- Two wooden uprights support the fence panel.
- The chair's back is attached to two metal uprights.
Learner examples
- The fence has two uprights.
- The uprights hold the roof.
- We painted the uprights red.
Noun
B1
entity
4
Piano with vertical strings
A piano that stands tall with strings going up and down.
Synonyms
vertical piano (Technical term describing the same design as 'upright piano'.)
Antonyms
grand piano (A piano with horizontal strings and larger body, opposite in design to an upright.)
Collocations
upright piano
Themes
music
|arts_entertainment
Examples
- She learned to play on an old upright in her living room.
- The school bought a new upright piano for the music class.
- They moved the heavy upright into the corner of the room.
Learner examples
- We have an upright piano at home.
- He plays music on the upright.
- The school has an old upright piano.
Grammar
Dictionary form
upright
IPA
GB/ʌpɹˈaɪt/
US/ʌpɹˈaɪt/
Syllables & stress
up - right (2 syllables)
Stress on 2nd syllable (right)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: upright
Noun
- Base: upright
- Plural: uprights
Word family
Forms
uprights
noun
Related words
uprightness
noun
upstanding
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
horizontal
adjective B1
Expressions
stand upright
1/stˈænd ʌpɹˈaɪt/
fixed phrase
Remain standing vertically
To be on your feet in a straight position.
Examples
- Please stand upright during the ceremony.
- The tree still stands upright after the storm.
bolt upright
1/bˈoʊlt ʌpɹˈaɪt/
fixed phrase
sitting or standing very straight
To sit or stand "bolt upright" means to be very straight, with your back vertical, often suddenly.
Examples
- He sat bolt upright when he heard the noise.
- She sat bolt upright in bed when she heard the scream.
- She woke up bolt upright after the nightmare.
- The children were sitting bolt upright in their chairs, afraid to move.
- He woke up and stood bolt upright, confused and breathing hard.