What does vertically mean?
Vertically describes movement, orientation, or alignment along an upright axis, especially at a right angle to a horizontal plane. It is widely used for objects that stand upright, extend upward or downward, or are arranged in a straight vertical line: “the columns rise vertically from the pavement.” The adverb is neutral in register and common in everyday, technical, and academic contexts. It is related to the adjective vertical, which describes something arranged in an upright direction or at right angles to a horizontal plane, and to the noun verticality. Although vertically sometimes appears where uprightly might be used, it more precisely concerns position or direction. The word also has a geometric sense, as in a vertically aligned panel or a vertically stacked arrangement. Its Latin ancestry connects it to vertical, vertex, and version through the root vertere, meaning “to turn.”
adverbIn or along a vertical line or direction; at right angles to a horizontal plane. It can also mean in an upright position.
- In or along a vertical direction or axis; at right angles to a horizontal plane.
- In an upright position.
"The arrow points vertically upward, toward the narrow end of the triangle."
"The shelves are mounted vertically along the side wall."
"The smoke rose vertically before the wind dispersed it."
Vertically shares its Latin root with vertex: both trace back to vertere, the ancient word for turning.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does vertically come from?
Vertically was formed in English by adding the adverbial suffix -ly to vertical. Vertical was borrowed through French from Latin verticalis, an adjective derived from vertere, meaning “to turn.” The same Latin root also appears in words such as vertex, version, and vertiginous.
Related word forms
How vertically is actually used
Vertically is a standard, neutral word in formal and informal English. It emphasizes direction or alignment rather than merely the upright appearance of an object, so a line that stands upright but leans slightly is not truly vertical.
Easily confused with vertically
Vertically describes direction or position along an upright axis, whereas virtually means almost or for practical purposes.