upside down

adverb

up·​side down ˈəp-ˌsīd-ˈdau̇n 

1

: in such a way that the upper and the lower parts are reversed in position

2

: in or into great disorder

turned their world upside down

upside-down

ˈəp-ˌsīd-ˈdau̇n 

adjective

Examples of upside down in a Sentence

You hung the picture upside down!

To remove the plant, turn the pot upside down and tap gently on the bottom to loosen it.

The baby was holding the book upside down.

Recent Examples on the Web

In the new season, Percy Jackson returns to Camp Half-Blood one year later to find his world turned upside down. —Katie Campione, Deadline, 14 Mar. 2025

The incident comes just three weeks after a Delta Air Lines flight crashed, turned upside down and caught fire on the runway at Toronto Pearson International Airport. —Tricia Escobedo, CNN, 14 Mar. 2025

Turning the largest version upside down reveals a cascade of tennis balls in addition to a wallet and other items. —Lily Templeton, WWD, 13 Mar. 2025

Anyway, things turn upside down for Mickey when girls from The Avenue start turning up dead at the same time Kacey goes missing. —Daniel Fienberg, The Hollywood Reporter, 12 Mar. 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English up so doun, from up + so + doun down

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for upside down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Kids Definition

upside down

adverb

up·​side down ˌəp-ˌsīd-ˈdau̇n 

1

: with the upper part underneath and the lower part on top

2

: in or into great disorder

upside-down adjective

Legal Definition

upside down

adjective

: underwater

upside down mortgages

upside down homes

upside down homeowners