vertical
adjective
ver·ti·cal
ˈvər-ti-kəl 
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
Cynthia B. Cohen
vertical
noun
Examples of vertical in a Sentence
a shirt with vertical stripes
the vertical axis of a graph
Recent Examples on the Web
Installing Garden Structures Garden structures add vertical interest to the garden and maximize the space in a small garden by keeping vines and climbing vegetables from taking over the ground.
—Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 2 Mar. 2025
The lander touched down at 3:34 a.m. after running through a powered descent 12 minutes out bringing the lander into a vertical position and slowing down from 3,800 mph to about 90 mph.
—Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2025
Among the various drills that players can participate in during the NFL Combine are the 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle, 60-yard shuttle, 3-cone drill, vertical jump, broad jump, bench press, and position-specific drills, including passing drills for the quarterbacks.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025
Because Denali rises from a plateau that’s only two thousand feet above sea level, its twin peaks gain eighteen thousand feet from its base — a full six thousand more in vertical rise than Everest from its base.
—Cassidy Randall, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vertical
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Mary Marlowe Leverette, Southern Living, 2 Mar. 2025
The lander touched down at 3:34 a.m. after running through a powered descent 12 minutes out bringing the lander into a vertical position and slowing down from 3,800 mph to about 90 mph.
—Richard Tribou, Orlando Sentinel, 2 Mar. 2025
Among the various drills that players can participate in during the NFL Combine are the 40-yard dash, 20-yard shuttle, 60-yard shuttle, 3-cone drill, vertical jump, broad jump, bench press, and position-specific drills, including passing drills for the quarterbacks.
—Dan Perry, Newsweek, 2 Mar. 2025
Because Denali rises from a plateau that’s only two thousand feet above sea level, its twin peaks gain eighteen thousand feet from its base — a full six thousand more in vertical rise than Everest from its base.
—Cassidy Randall, Rolling Stone, 2 Mar. 2025
See All Example Sentences for vertical
Cite this Entry
“Vertical.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/vertical. Accessed 15 Mar. 2025.
Copy CitationMedical Definition
vertical
adjective
ver·ti·cal
ˈvərt-i-kəl
: 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
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