What does upright mean?
Upright describes something that is standing or held vertically, as in an upright tree, an upright person, or a picture placed upright. It can also carry a strongly favorable moral meaning: an upright person is honest, principled, and trustworthy. The adjective is used in both everyday physical descriptions and formal discussions of ethics, where it suggests a firm commitment to doing what is right. As an adverb, upright means in or into a vertical position. As a noun, upright can refer to a vertical post or support, and it is also the established name for a piano whose strings and soundboard are arranged vertically rather than horizontally. The word is especially useful because it links a precise physical idea, being vertical, with the figurative idea of moral straightness. Its history reflects this connection: it was formed from “up” and “right,” with “right” originally conveying straightness or directness before the word developed its ethical associations.
Standing or held vertically; erect. In figurative use, morally honest or principled.
"The judge was known for his upright and impartial conduct."
The figurative sense is especially common in formal and literary English.
In or into an upright or vertical position.
"He sat upright when the officer entered the room."
This use is less frequent than the adjective but remains standard.
A vertical post, support, or similar object; also an upright piano.
"The fence has several wooden uprights supporting the wire."
When referring to a piano, “upright” usually means a vertically strung piano.
The plural is especially used for separate vertical supports or posts and for multiple upright pianos.
"Several old uprights stood along the edge of the workshop."
Upright has a neat double meaning: standing up and being morally right are joined in the same word.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does upright come from?
Upright is an English compound formed from the elements “up” and “right,” with “right” conveying the sense of straight, direct, or in an upward direction. Its physical sense developed from this literal combination, while the figurative sense of being morally upright follows the related idea of being right or righteous. The compound has cognate relationships with English words based on “up,” such as upward, and on “right,” such as righteous and rightly.
Related word forms
How upright is actually used
The moral sense is common in formal and literary contexts and often suggests principled conduct rather than merely following rules. The adjective is otherwise broadly neutral.