upper

[ uhp-er ]

/ ˈʌp ər /

adjective

higher, as in place, position, pitch, or in a scale: the upper stories of a house; the upper register of a singer's voice.

superior, as in rank, dignity, or station.

(of places) at a higher level, more northerly, or farther from the sea: the upper slopes of a mountain; upper New York State.

(often initial capital letter) Stratigraphy. denoting a later division of a period, system, or the like: the Upper Devonian.

noun

the part of a shoe or boot above the sole, comprising the quarter, vamp, counter, and lining.

an upper berth.

a gaiter made of cloth. Compare gaiter(def 1).

Usually uppers,

an upper dental plate.
an upper tooth.

Informal. the higher of two bunks or berths.

Idioms for upper

on one's uppers, Informal. reduced to poverty; without sufficient means: They are on their uppers but manage to hide the fact from their friends.

Origin of upper

1300–50; Middle English; see up (adj.), -er⁴

Words nearby upper

upmanship, upmarket, upmost, upolu, upon, upper, upper air, upper airway, upper arlington, upper arm, upper atmosphere

Definition for upper (2 of 2)

upper ²

[ uhp-er ]

/ ˈʌp ər /

noun Slang.

a stimulant drug, especially an amphetamine.

a pleasant or elating experience, person, or situation.

Origin of upper

An Americanism dating back to 1965–70; up + -er¹

Example sentences from the Web for upper

Kanye refuses to stomach any rejection, no matter how upper crust.

Kanye West and Kim Kardashian’s Balmain Campaign: High Fashion Meets Low Culture |Amy Zimmerman |December 23, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Targeting her upper back, Couple sat cross-legged on a table while she whipped her slave.

Dungeons and Genital Clamps: Inside a Legendary BDSM Chateau |Ian Frisch |December 20, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
When I came to New York after college I was taken with the world of Jewish intellectuals and the Upper West Side.

Meghan Daum On Tackling The Unspeakable Parts Of Life |David Yaffe |December 6, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
Sure, the Red Coats had the upper hand in terms of transportation, supplies and training.

The British Royals Reinvade Brooklyn: William and Kate Come Watch Basketball on Historic Battle Site |Justin Jones |December 6, 2014 |DAILY BEAST

They and their allies seem to have the upper hand in Missouri.

Abortion in Missouri Is the Wait of a Lifetime |Justin Glawe |November 12, 2014 |DAILY BEAST
The upper path returns to the road along the crest of the bank, and a few steps brings the tourist to Fort Clinton.

Guide to West Point, and the U.S. Military Academy |Various
The upper part of the stud is screwed, and carries the guard D and an hexagonal nut E. F is the india-rubber.

An Introduction to Machine Drawing and Design |David Allan Low
On the upper Tokachi, however, they are covered with the bark of trees.

Alone with the Hairy Ainu |A. H. Savage Landor
Tenaya Canyon enters from the east in line with the valley, looking as if it were the Valley's upper reach.

The Book of the National Parks |Robert Sterling Yard
Pinnæ broadly lanceolate-falcate or the lowest triangular, strongly auricled on the upper side, densely spinulose-toothed.

The Fern Lover's Companion |George Henry Tilton

British Dictionary definitions for upper

upper

/ (ˈʌpə) /

adjective

higher or highest in relation to physical position, wealth, rank, status, etc

(capital when part of a name) lying farther upstream, inland, or farther north the upper valley of the Loire

(capital when part of a name) geology archaeol denoting the late part or division of a period, system, formation, etc Upper Palaeolithic

maths (of a limit or bound) greater than or equal to one or more numbers or variables

noun

the higher of two objects, people, etc

the part of a shoe above the sole, covering the upper surface of the foot

on one's uppers extremely poor; destitute

informal any tooth of the upper jaw

Also called (esp US): up slang any of various drugs having a stimulant or euphoric effect Compare downer

Scientific definitions for upper

upper

[ ŭp′ər ]

Being a later or more recent division of the geological or archaeological period named. Compare lower.

Idioms and Phrases with upper

upper

In addition to the idioms beginning with upper

upper crust
upper hand
upper story

also see:

keep a stiff upper lip
on one's uppers

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

upper

adjective

noun

Idioms for upper

Origin of upper

Words nearby upper

Definition for upper (2 of 2)

noun Slang.

Origin of upper

Example sentences from the Web for upper

British Dictionary definitions for upper

adjective

noun

Scientific definitions for upper

Idioms and Phrases with upper

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

upper

adjective

noun

Idioms for upper

Origin of upper

Words nearby upper

Definition for upper (2 of 2)

noun Slang.

Origin of upper

Words related to upper

Example sentences from the Web for upper

British Dictionary definitions for upper

adjective

noun

Scientific definitions for upper

Idioms and Phrases with upper