upright
/ˈʌpraɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈʌpraɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈəp-ˌrīt/ (ame, mw) · /ˈʌp.raɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /ˈʌp.raɪt/ (ame, ipa)
upright — adjective
- uprightpositive
- more uprightcomparative
- most uprightsuperlative
1. placed or positioned so that the top is directly above the bottom, with no leani
placed or positioned so that the top is directly above the bottom, with no leaning to either side.
After the storm flattened the fence, Dario pushed the boards back into an upright position.
common collocation 'upright position'
The museum guard reminded visitors to keep their umbrellas in an upright position when not in use.
When the yoga teacher said 'stand upright,' Aoi straightened her back and lifted her chin.
Nkechi checked that the Christmas tree was perfectly upright before she started decorating it.
- horizontal
lying flat rather than standing up
- slanted
leaning at an angle rather than straight up
- flat
resting on the ground rather than standing
用法筆記
Frequently appears in the set phrase 'in an upright position' to describe sitting or standing with the back straight.
常見錯誤
2. having a firm sense of right and wrong, and choosing to act with honesty and fai
having a firm sense of right and wrong, and choosing to act with honesty and fairness even when doing so is difficult.
The community trusted Diego because he was an upright person who never broke a promise.
common usage 'upright person'
Her grandfather was an upright citizen who volunteered at the local library for thirty years.
Tyler proved himself an upright person when he returned the extra money the cashier had given him by mistake.
The judge praised the young witness for giving an upright and honest account of the accident.
- honest
more common and less formal; focuses specifically on truthfulness
- principled
similar register; stresses acting according to a personal moral code
- upstanding
very similar meaning; often used in 'upstanding member of the community'
- righteous
stronger, sometimes religious tone; can sound self-righteous in casual use
用法筆記
Commonly describes a person's character in respectful or formal settings, such as 'upright citizen' or 'upright judge.' Less common in casual conversation, where 'honest' or 'decent' is preferred.
常見錯誤
3. describing a type of object whose height is clearly greater than its width, usua
describing a type of object whose height is clearly greater than its width, usually designed to save floor space.
The delivery driver struggled to fit the upright freezer through the kitchen doorway.
standard term 'upright freezer'
Bilal bought an upright vacuum cleaner because it took up less space in the closet.
The music shop sells upright pianos that fit neatly against the wall of a small apartment.
Priya bought an upright garment steamer because it took up less space in her apartment than a full ironing board.
- compact
describes items that are short or wide rather than tall
用法筆記
This sense only applies to certain manufactured products that come in both tall-and-narrow and wide-and-short versions (freezers, vacuums, pianos, etc.). It is not used for natural objects like trees or people.
常見錯誤
upright — adverb
1. in a straight-up direction, with the back straight or the object held so that it
in a straight-up direction, with the back straight or the object held so that its top points directly upward and it does not lean.
After washing the rug, Rohan hung it upright over the balcony rail to dry.
verb + upright: 'hung it upright'
The museum displayed the ancient stone tablet standing upright in a glass case.
Élise stood the heavy mirror upright against the wall while she fixed the bracket.
The neighbour's dog sat bolt upright when it heard a strange noise outside the cabin.
- vertically
more formal; used for direction rather than posture
- straight
simpler and broader; can also mean 'without bending'
- erectly
very formal; mainly describes human posture
- horizontally
lying flat rather than standing up
- flat
resting on a surface rather than standing
用法筆記
Usually follows a verb of position or movement: 'stand upright,' 'sit upright,' 'hold upright,' 'hang upright.' The idiomatic phrase 'bolt upright' means sitting or standing in a very straight, sudden position, often from surprise.
常見錯誤
upright — noun
- uprightsingular
- uprightsplural
1. a long vertical piece of wood, metal, or other material used to support a struct
a long vertical piece of wood, metal, or other material used to support a structure or hold something in position.
The carpenter replaced the rotten upright that was holding up the porch roof.
countable noun in construction context
Noa checked each wooden upright in the fence to see which ones needed replacing.
The garden shed collapsed because one of the steel uprights had rusted through at the base.
A thick wooden upright from the old barn was reused as a beam in the new workshop.
用法筆記
Often found in construction and woodworking contexts. Can be used interchangeably with 'post' or 'pillar' in many cases, though 'upright' emphasises the vertical function.
常見錯誤
2. an informal short form of 'goalpost,' referring to either of the two vertical po
an informal short form of 'goalpost,' referring to either of the two vertical posts on each side of a goal in football, rugby, or American football.
The football hit the upright and bounced back onto the field instead of going in.
informal sports usage
Rohan's kick was so close that the ball grazed the left upright before missing the goal.
The supporters groaned when the striker's shot struck the upright for the third time in the match.
The header hit the far upright and bounced safely into the goalkeeper's hands.
- goalpost
the full, more formal term
用法筆記
Always informal. In formal sports commentary or official rules, 'goalpost' is the standard term. 'Hit the upright' is a common expression among fans and players.
常見錯誤
❌ 'He kicked the ball between the uprights for a field goal.' (American football context) — This is actually CORRECT usage in American football, where 'uprights' specifically refers to the goalposts.
3. a piano whose strings run from top to bottom inside a rectangular wooden cabinet
a piano whose strings run from top to bottom inside a rectangular wooden cabinet, giving it a smaller footprint and a lower price than a grand piano.
The school music room had an old upright that had been tuned every year since 1995.
contrasted with grand piano
Charlotte's parents bought her a second-hand upright so she could practise scales at home.
Unlike a grand piano, an upright takes up much less floor space in a small living room.
Tyler learned to play on a battered upright that his grandmother had bought in the 1960s.
- vertical piano
less common technical term
- grand piano
larger piano with horizontal strings, used in concert settings
用法筆記
The full term 'upright piano' is more common than using 'upright' alone for this sense. In casual speech, people often say 'upright piano' to distinguish it from a grand or digital piano.