vertically

Everyday

In an up-and-down direction, straight up, at a right angle to the ground. tree →

In the lessons

In maths, vertical lines go up and down; a shape can be flipped vertically or a column read vertically. In graphs, the y-axis runs vertically. In science and everyday life, rockets launch vertically, and things fall vertically under gravity. Phrases: vertically and horizontally, flip vertically, vertically challenged (joking euphemism for short).

Examples

• Write the sum vertically, with the tens under the tens. tree →
• The rocket rose vertically into the sky. tree →
• Fold the paper vertically down the middle. tree →
• The y-axis goes vertically on a graph. tree →
• Rain fell vertically on the still day. tree →
• Hang the poster vertically, not sideways. tree →
• (joking) He's a bit vertically challenged — he can't reach the top shelf. tree →

Note

Opposite: horizontally (side to side). Adjective vertical. In maths, vertically opposite angles are equal. «Vertically challenged» is a jokey euphemism for short.