upend

verb

up·​end ˌəp-ˈend 

upended; upending; upends

transitive verb

1

: to set or stand on end

also : overturn sense 1

2

a

: to affect to the point of being upset or flurried

a … literary shocker, designed to upend the credulous matrons

—Wolcott Gibbs

b

: defeat, beat

intransitive verb

: to rise on an end

Synonyms

• beat
• best
• conquer
• defeat
• dispatch
• do down [British]
• get
• get around
• lick
• master
• overbear
• overcome
• overmatch
• prevail (over)
• skunk
• stop
• subdue
• surmount
• take
• trim
• triumph (over)
• win (against)
• worst

Examples of upend in a Sentence

He upended the bicycle to fix its flat tire.

I upended the bucket to use as a stool.

The security inspector upended my bag and dumped everything out.

A giant wave upended the surfers.

The midfielder was upended before he got the ball.

Recent Examples on the Web

The condition has upended her life, prompting an unplanned cross-country move to help facilitate her recovery, a process expected to take months. —Sandra G. Boodman, Washington Post, 22 June 2024

The invasive fish have already upended much of the Mississippi River. —Caitlin Looby, Journal Sentinel, 21 June 2024

Should the Red Sea crisis or the war in Gaza spiral into a wider war, this could further upend Chinese trade and investments across the region. —Aaron Glasserman, Foreign Affairs, 13 June 2024

Suicide deaths have upended the country’s entertainment industry, disrupted local and national politics, sparked a nationwide protest movement, and forced c-suite resignations. —Michael Mitsanas and Chou Lee / Seoul, TIME, 13 June 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

upend

verb

up·​end ˌə-ˈpend 

: to set, stand, or rise on end