topsy-turvy

1 of 3

adverb

top·​sy-tur·​vy ˌtäp-sē-ˈtər-vē How to pronounce topsy-turvy (audio)
1
: in utter confusion or disorder
2
: with the top or head downward : upside down

topsy-turvy

2 of 3

adjective

: turned topsy-turvy : totally disordered
topsy-turvily adverb
topsy-turvydom noun

topsy-turvy

3 of 3

noun

Examples of topsy-turvy in a Sentence

Adjective the office is still topsy-turvy even though we moved in months ago
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Adverb
McIlroy got the job done in a dramatic playoff over Justin Rose after a topsy-turvy final round that featured plenty of ups and downs. Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 17 Apr. 2025 Since then, however, an escalating trade war with tariffs has contributed to topsy-turvy markets. Max Zahn, ABC News, 16 Apr. 2025
Noun
Within that film’s topsy-turvy multiverse, Quan was by turns a laundromat owner on the verge of divorcing his wife, a dashing romantic lead and an action hero. Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2023 Pinsker’s characters always make the best of tricky situations, which only makes their struggles in her topsy-turvy worlds more heartbreaking. Charlie Jane Anders, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2023 See All Example Sentences for topsy-turvy

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

probably ultimately from tops (plural of top entry 1) + obsolete English terve to turn upside down

First Known Use

Adverb

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1612, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1655, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of topsy-turvy was in 1528

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Topsy-turvy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topsy-turvy. Accessed 24 Apr. 2025.

Kids Definition

topsy-turvy

adverb
top·​sy-tur·​vy
ˌtäp-sē-ˈtər-vē
topsy-turvy adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on topsy-turvy

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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