vertical

adjective

ver·​ti·​cal ˈvər-ti-kəl How to pronounce vertical (audio)
1
a
: perpendicular to the plane of the horizon or to a primary axis : upright
b(1)
: located at right angles to the plane of a supporting surface
(2)
: lying in the direction of an axis : lengthwise
2
a
: situated at the highest point : directly overhead or in the zenith
b
of an aerial photograph : taken with the camera pointing straight down or nearly so
3
a
: relating to, involving, or integrating economic activity from basic production to point of sale
a vertical monopoly
b
: of, relating to, or comprising persons of different status
the vertical arrangement of society
4
medical : relating to or being transmission (as of a disease) by genetic inheritance or by a congenital or perinatal route
vertical inheritance
… decreasing the rate of vertical transmission of HIV to the fetus by two-thirds, so that the numbers of children with the condition are diminishing.Cynthia B. Cohen
compare horizontal sense 3
vertical noun
verticality noun
vertically adverb
verticalness noun
Choose the Right Synonym for vertical

vertical, perpendicular, plumb mean being at right angles to a base line.

vertical suggests a line or direction rising straight upward toward a zenith.

the side of the cliff is almost vertical

perpendicular may stress the straightness of a line making a right angle with any other line, not necessarily a horizontal one.

the parallel bars are perpendicular to the support posts

plumb stresses an exact verticality determined (as with a plumb line) by earth's gravity.

make sure that the wall is plumb

Examples of vertical in a Sentence

a shirt with vertical stripes the vertical axis of a graph
Recent Examples on the Web Once inside, the route ducks among vertical escarpments, oddly balanced rocks and contorted pillars. Mare Czinar, The Arizona Republic, 7 Mar. 2024 Or, for a more budget-friendly option, install floating shelves above your commode and flank it with vertical storage cubes. Mary Cornetta, Better Homes & Gardens, 4 Mar. 2024 Distinguished by a tilt-wing design, the inaugural fleet member can execute vertical takeoffs and landings and easily transition to winged horizontal flight to increase speed and range. Rachel Cormack, Robb Report, 29 Feb. 2024 Loss of Lip volume The vertical wrinkles around the lips get deeper as the lips grow thinner. Dr. Dennis Schimpf, Forbes, 27 Feb. 2024 And Claudia Ross has an intriguing story about how density is coming for Hollywood Forever Cemetery — in the form of a vertical mausoleum designed by Lehrer Architects. Carolina A. Miranda, Los Angeles Times, 2 Mar. 2024 In the self-portrait series, Ahn sat on roof corners and building ledges, sometimes showing her whole body perched on the edge; in others, just her legs and feet are visible above the straight vertical drop below. Jacqui Palumbo, CNN, 1 Mar. 2024 Issued in 1998 as a response to the growing prevalence of flammable materials, its criteria include that vertical flames spread less than 10 feet (3 meters) above the window opening in the test, and that lateral flames spread less than 5 feet (1.5 meters) from the centerline of the window opening. Alex Christian, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2024 Sometimes both the shapes and the hues are precise, yet some of the colors shimmer, as in the vertical bands airbrushed by Don Dudley and the vertical ones painted by Norman Zammitt (1931-2007). Mark Jenkins, Washington Post, 1 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'vertical.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Middle French or Late Latin; Middle French, from Late Latin verticalis, from Latin vertic-, vertex

First Known Use

1559, in the meaning defined at sense 2a

Time Traveler
The first known use of vertical was in 1559

Dictionary Entries Near vertical

Cite this Entry

“Vertical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vertical. Accessed 19 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

vertical

1 of 2 adjective
ver·​ti·​cal
ˈvərt-i-kəl
1
: directly overhead
2
: going straight up or down from a level surface
3
: of or relating to persons of higher or lower standing
a vertical social order
vertically
-k(ə-)lē
adverb

vertical

2 of 2 noun
1
: something (as a line or plane) that is vertical
2
: a vertical direction
Etymology

from early French vertical or Latin verticalis, both meaning "relating to a vertex, at the highest point overhead," from earlier Latin vertic-, vertex "top, highest point, pole (turning point), whirl," from vertere "to turn" — related to converse, reverse, universe, versatile

Medical Definition

vertical

adjective
ver·​ti·​cal ˈvərt-i-kəl How to pronounce vertical (audio)
: relating to or being transmission (as of a disease) by genetic inheritance or by a congenital or perinatal route
vertical transmission of the hepatitis B virus from mother to infant
vertical inheritance
compare horizontal sense 2
vertically adverb

More from Merriam-Webster on vertical

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