MEANING
To criticize or reproach someone sharply for a fault or failure.
Use it for
Words that belong together
- upbraid someone for neglect
- upbraid a subordinate
On the page
She upbraided him for abandoning the watch, not for admitting he was afraid.
The captain upbraided the courier before reading the undelivered message.
Nearby words
Related words
Word forms
- Base
- upbraid
- Past tense
- upbraided
- Past participle
- upbraided
- Present participle
- upbraiding
Full tense & aspect guide
- Present
- upbraid
- Present continuous
- am/is/are upbraiding
- Present perfect
- have/has upbraided
- Present perfect continuous
- have/has been upbraiding
- Past
- upbraided
- Past continuous
- was/were upbraiding
- Past perfect
- had upbraided
- Past perfect continuous
- had been upbraiding
- Future
- will upbraid
- Future continuous
- will be upbraiding
- Future perfect
- will have upbraided
- Future perfect continuous
- will have been upbraiding
Choose the auxiliary that agrees with your subject. These are constructions of one word, not separate entries.
Usage notes
Primary category: literary. Forms: upbraid; upbraids; upbraided; upbraided; upbraiding Legacy lexical fields mirror sense 1 only. Use numbered sense fields for all meanings. Third-person singular: upbraids.
Practice this word in a sentenceYour margin notes
Keep a thought for later. Sign in to save privately.