Skip to main content
upstanding

upstanding

38 3.9
A person who is honest and has strong moral values
  • adjective
  • /ʌpˈstændɪŋ/
translation icon : íntegro
  • She is known as an upstanding member of the community who always helps those in need.
  • an upstanding citizen
  • an upstanding member

And then he went home to his Quaker S upstanding fine wife and had a large family.

Autoplay Next

Examples

  • Most of the boys that matriculate at Oakwood are very upstanding gentlemen; however, there are the occasional bad apples.

    Fiction book (1999)
  • Dr. Oppenheimer is a man of upstanding character.

  • I mean, she was a fine upstanding young woman.

  • When it comes down to it, parents can only encourage upstanding behavior from a distance.

    Blog text (19)
  • We are good, upstanding men that are in touch with our emotions.

  • So many priests are wonderful, upstanding leaders.

  • You got to be an upstanding citizen.

  • You're a fine, upstanding man.

  • I know so many people that harbour those concerns and they are fine, law abiding, upstanding members of the community.

  • Despite themselves, those fine, upstanding citizens end up providing alibis for the accused or attesting to their good character.

    Fiction book (1996)

Synonyms

good
vsupstanding
1.0

Behaving in a kind and honest way

focuses more on honest conduct and social respect than general moral excellence
respectable
vsupstanding
114 3.0

Seen by people as good and socially acceptable

puts more weight on honesty and strong principles beyond social acceptability
virtuous
vsupstanding
35 4.3

Being morally good and doing what is right

is more about honesty and public respect than moral righteousness
upright
vsupstanding
15 4.0

Behaving honestly and following strong moral rules

emphasizes deserving social respect rather than only private moral behavior
uncorrupt
vsupstanding
1 5.3

Honest and unwilling to take bribes

focuses more on deserving social respect than simply avoiding corruption
incorrupt
vsupstanding
7.9

A person or group that is honest and does not take bribes

stresses deserving respect and social regard rather than only avoiding corruption

Antonyms

291 4.4

Willing to act dishonestly to gain money or power

128 2.5

Likely to lie or cheat to get something for yourself

How Respectable

exemplary
45 5.8
upright
15 4.0
honorable
  • US
253 3.7
upstanding
38 3.9
respectable
114 3.0

Surface Forms

upstanding positive

Morphology

upstanding = standing (semi-transparent) = up + stand + ing

Formed as 'up' + 'standing'; while the parts are clear, the sense 'honorable, respectable' is a metaphorical extension of 'upright' not directly deducible by all learners.

Etymology

Upstanding comes from the parts up and stand, like someone who stands straight and firm; think of a person who stands tall with good behavior. So upstanding means 'honest' and 'respectable'.