vertical
VUR-tih-kuhl
Vertical (adj) means standing straight up, at a right angle to the ground or to a horizontal line. Example: “The climber gripped the vertical cliff face and slowly pulled himself upwards.”
adj
1
Standing straight up, at a right angle to the ground or to a horizontal line.
"The climber gripped the vertical cliff face and slowly pulled himself upwards."
"The ladder needs to be perfectly vertical before you climb it."
"The graph's vertical axis shows sales in thousands."
noun
1
A specific market, industry, or subject area treated as a distinct segment.
"Our agency focuses on one vertical, which is online education."
"Selling software to the retail vertical requires a very different approach."
"The company expanded into the healthcare vertical last year."
How to use vertical
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishPointing straight up and down, as opposed to horizontal; in business, a specific industry or niche.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
a vertical line
vertical market
vertical axis
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Word forms
- Plural
- verticals
- Comparative
- more vertical
- Superlative
- most vertical
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The climber gripped the _____ cliff face and slowly pulled himself upwards.
Etymology
From Late Latin verticalis, related to vertex, "the highest point" — from vertere, "to turn".
Synonyms
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Related words
Rhymes for vertical
See all rhymes for vertical →Frequently asked questions
What does “vertical” mean?
The word “vertical” means standing straight up, at a right angle to the ground or to a horizontal line. In plain terms, pointing straight up and down, as opposed to horizontal; in business, a specific industry or niche.
How do you pronounce “vertical”?
“Vertical” is pronounced VUR-tih-kuhl (/ˈvɝ.tɪ.kəl/ in IPA).
How do you use “vertical” in a sentence?
Here is “vertical” used in a sentence: “The ladder needs to be perfectly vertical before you climb it.”
What is the opposite of “vertical”?
The opposite of “vertical” — its antonyms — is horizontal.
What part of speech is “vertical”?
Depending on how it is used, “vertical” can be an adjective and a noun.
Where does the word “vertical” come from?
The word “vertical” comes from Late Latin. From Late Latin verticalis, related to vertex, "the highest point" — from vertere, "to turn".
Is “vertical” a common word?
“Vertical” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the C1 level.
How many meanings does “vertical” have?
“Vertical” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: standing straight up, at a right angle to the ground or to a horizontal line.
What is the difference between "vertical" and "horizontal"?
"Vertical" means standing straight up, at a right angle to the ground or to a horizontal line. "Horizontal" means running flat and level, parallel to the ground or the horizon. A flagpole is vertical, while the ground it stands on is horizontal.
What is the difference between "vertical" and "upright"?
"Vertical" is a precise, often technical term meaning at a right angle to the horizontal. "Upright" means standing on end in a roughly vertical position, and it is a more everyday word that can also imply "not lying down." Something can be upright without being perfectly vertical.
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