upper
UH-puh
Upper (adj) means Positioned higher, in rank, level, or physical location, than something else. Example: “She lives on the upper floor of the building.”
adj
1
Positioned higher, in rank, level, or physical location, than something else.
"She lives on the upper floor of the building."
"He was promoted to the upper management team."
"The upper shelf is too high for the children to reach."
noun
1
The top part of a shoe, covering the foot above the sole.
"The boot's leather upper had started to crack."
"The cobbler stitched the soft upper to the sole by hand."
"Rain had soaked right through the canvas upper of my trainers."
2
Informal: a stimulant drug, or anything that makes someone feel more energetic or cheerful.
"The comedy show was a real upper after a stressful week."
"A quick walk in the sunshine is a great upper."
"That cheerful phone call from my friend was a real upper."
How to use upper
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishSomething positioned or ranked higher than something else, or (informally) a stimulant/mood-booster.
Common pairings
upper floor
upper class
upper hand
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like upper.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- uppers
- Comparative
- uppermore
- Superlative
- uppermost
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She lives on the _____ floor of the building.
Etymology
From Middle English upper, formed as up + the comparative suffix -er.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for upper
See all rhymes for upper →Frequently asked questions
What does “upper” mean?
The word “upper” means positioned higher, in rank, level, or physical location, than something else. In plain terms, something positioned or ranked higher than something else, or (informally) a stimulant/mood-booster.
How do you pronounce “upper”?
“Upper” is pronounced UH-puh (/ˈʌpɚ/ in IPA).
How do you use “upper” in a sentence?
Here is “upper” used in a sentence: “She lives on the upper floor of the building.”
What is the opposite of “upper”?
The opposite of “upper” — its antonyms — are lower and under.
What part of speech is “upper”?
Depending on how it is used, “upper” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “upper” come from?
The word “upper” comes from Middle English. From Middle English upper, formed as up + the comparative suffix -er.
Is “upper” a common word?
“Upper” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.
How many meanings does “upper” have?
“Upper” has 3 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: positioned higher, in rank, level, or physical location, than something else.
What is the difference between upper and lower?
Upper and lower are opposites describing relative position. Upper means the higher of two parts, or the one nearer the top — the upper floor, upper lip, upper body. Lower means the part beneath it. Together they split something into a top and a bottom section.
What is an example of upper?
The upper deck of a bus, the upper lip, the upper floors of a building, and the upper class of society are all examples. Upper marks the part that sits higher in position, level, or rank than its matching lower counterpart, whether in space or in status.
What is the opposite of upper?
The direct opposite of upper is lower. Upper describes the higher position in rank, level, or place, so its natural antonym is lower, which names the position beneath. In particular phrases, 'under,' 'bottom,' and 'nether' also stand in contrast to upper.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include upper:
