: the chiefly northerly sections of a state
also
: the chiefly rural part of a state when the major metropolitan area is in the south
Examples of upstate in a Sentence
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Written and directed by Raviv Ullman and Greg Yagolnitzer in their feature directorial debuts, the film follows two estranged sisters who attempt to rob a secluded home in rural upstate New York.
—
Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 19 May 2026
Very little has been done to deal with this problem, but today, lawmakers in Albany have an opportunity to help protect our neighbors upstate and across the river, save our tax dollars, and protect our environment at the same time by passing the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act.
—Justin Sanchez, New York Daily News, 15 May 2026
The twins last fall committed to play collegiately at Colgate University in upstate New York, two time zones and about 1,725 miles east.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
Batchelor brought Ruzicka into the NYC Ska Orchestra for a performance upstate last May.
—Daniel Yadin, Curbed, 11 Feb. 2026
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Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 19 May 2026
Very little has been done to deal with this problem, but today, lawmakers in Albany have an opportunity to help protect our neighbors upstate and across the river, save our tax dollars, and protect our environment at the same time by passing the Packaging Reduction and Recycling Infrastructure Act.
—Justin Sanchez, New York Daily News, 15 May 2026
The twins last fall committed to play collegiately at Colgate University in upstate New York, two time zones and about 1,725 miles east.
—Sean Keeler, Denver Post, 15 Mar. 2026
Batchelor brought Ruzicka into the NYC Ska Orchestra for a performance upstate last May.
—Daniel Yadin, Curbed, 11 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for upstate
Cite this Entry
“Upstate.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upstate. Accessed 20 May. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
upstate
adjective
up·state
ˈəp-ˌstāt 
: of, relating to, or typical of a part of a state away from a large city and especially to the north
upstate
noun or adverb
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