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

When Amanda sends a letter to a reality competition show, suddenly life in the quiet town turns upside down when the TV crew come to Merinac and Mae returns home for the action. —Rebecca Angel Baer, Southern Living, 7 Apr. 2025

Luke is 5 years old, and that turns your life upside down. —Curtis Pashelka, Mercury News, 7 Apr. 2025

To defrost using a pot or skillet: Take one of the cooking vessels and place it upside down. —Cody Godwin, USA Today, 4 Apr. 2025

The internet was flipping business models upside down, unlocking opportunities no one had imagined. —Mehdi Daoudi, Forbes.com, 2 Apr. 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