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

Platforms like TikTok have turned everything upside down, making creators the new tastemakers. —Stephanie Gravalese, Forbes, 22 Jan. 2025

Then, in 2015, Rudd's staff found clear X-rays of Ben on the coroner's office computer that would turn the case upside down. —Stephanie Slifer, CBS News, 17 Jan. 2025

When his next-door neighbour Nina invites him to a party, Olmo’s world is suddenly turned upside down. —Zac Ntim, Deadline, 16 Jan. 2025

The car landed upside down in the grassy median between on- and off-ramps and there were marks on a tree from the collision, according to News12. —Elizabeth Keogh, New York Daily News, 16 Jan. 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

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