upend

verb

up·end ˌəp-ˈend

upended; upending; upends

Synonyms of upend next

transitive verb

: to set or stand on end

also : overturn sense 1

: to affect to the point of being upset or flurried

a … literary shocker, designed to upend the credulous matrons—

Wolcott Gibbs

: defeat, beat

intransitive verb

: to rise on an end

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

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.

Judges weighing plea deals typically do not upend them over issues that the parties to the agreement have not disputed. —

Mike Spector, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024 In this way, Bon upends conventional thought to ask what if concrete infrastructure supports nature rather than suppressing it? —

Tom Teicholz, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024 Should President-elect Trump pick Gov. Ron DeSantis to lead the Defense Department (and should DeSantis accept), his exit would upend Florida's political landscape and scramble its government. —

Yacob Reyes, Axios, 4 Dec. 2024 While cancer has upended the Lopez family, which includes 8-year-old Aaliyah and 20-year-old Izabella, the family is getting some help from members of Austin's chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women, which focuses on social justice at the local, state and national level. —

Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman, 2 Dec. 2024 See all Example Sentences for upend