Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

upstate

/ˈʌp.steɪt/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.34 in modern English

Syllables: up-state
IPA: /ˈʌp.steɪt/

9

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

noun

The northern section of a state.

American usage

noun

The inland section of a state, particularly of South Carolina.

American usage

noun

A period during sleep when somebody is primed and ready to learn.

adj

Of the northern section of a state.

American usage

adv

To the northern section of a state.

American usage

Example Sentences

"They went hunting in upstate New York."
"Superintendent Chalmers: You call hamburgers "steamed hams"? Principal Skinner: Yes, it's a regional dialect. Superintendent Chalmers: Uh-huh? What region? Principal Skinner: Uh, upstate New York. Superintendent Chalmers: Really? Well, I'm from Utica and I never heard anyone use the phrase "steamed hams". Principal Skinner: Oh, not in Utica, no. It's an Albany expression. Superintendent Chalmers: I see."
"But for Stefanie Brechbuehler and Robert Highsmith, the husband-and-wife co-founders of the Brooklyn-based design firm Workstead, the recent revamp of an 1850s residence in upstate New York not only presented them with a thrilling challenge, it also marked a celebratory homecoming after a few years spent living in the South."
"He drove upstate to visit his mother."

Etymology

Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *upó Proto-Germanic *ub Proto-Germanic *upp Proto-West Germanic *upp Old English upp Middle English up English up Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Indo-European *stéh₂-tu-s ~ *sth₂-téw-s Proto-Italic *status Latin statuslbor. Old French estatbor. Middle English stat English state English upstate From up + state.

Regional Pronunciation

American English: /ˈʌp.steɪt/
British English: /ˈʌp.steɪt/

Usage

American usage

Inflected Forms

upstates (plural) more upstate (comparative) most upstate (superlative)

Derived Forms

upstater

Phrases

farm upstate

Antonyms

downstate Lowcountry

Rhymes With

great state wait late date rate hate first-rate straight eight create weight

Questions

How do you pronounce upstate?: The recorded pronunciation is /ˈʌp.steɪt/.
What does upstate mean?: The northern section of a state.
Where does upstate come from?: Etymology tree Proto-Indo-European *upó Proto-Germanic *ub Proto-Germanic *upp Proto-West Germanic *upp Old English upp Middle English up English up Proto-Indo-European *steh₂- Proto-Indo-European *-tus Proto-Indo-European *stéh₂-tu-s ~ *sth₂-téw-s Proto-Italic *status Latin statuslbor. Old French estatbor. Middle English stat English state English upstate From up + state.

How to pronounce upstate

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “upstate”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/ˈʌp.steɪt/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
Play the audio — Click Play to hear reference audio for “upstate”.
Repeat and practice — Say “upstate” aloud, matching stress and vowels until it feels natural.