upturn

1 of 2

verb

up·​turn ˈəp-ˌtərn 

ˌəp-ˈtərn

upturned; upturning; upturns

transitive verb

1

: to turn up or over

2

: to direct upward

intransitive verb

: to turn upward

upturn

2 of 2

noun

up·​turn ˈəp-ˌtərn 

: an upward turn especially toward better conditions or higher prices

Synonyms

Verb

• arise
• ascend
• aspire
• climb
• lift
• mount
• rise
• soar
• thrust
• up
• uprear
• uprise
• upthrust

Examples of upturn in a Sentence

Verb

at this point the road upturns steeply, the trees become scarcer, and the valley unfolds before you

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Just like the music itself: sonically rich, theatrical, ingeniously narrated and visualized by a woman who manages to prevent gender while redefining femininity and, as a result, upturn the power structures of hip hop. —Julian Randall, Essence, 9 Oct. 2024

The outage highlights how extensive people's reliance on technology has become and how an error based on something as trivial as a calendar date can upturn entire businesses and disrupt people's day. —Scharon Harding, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2024

Noun

Although the fertility rate in neighboring South Korea rose in 2024 for the first time in nine years, thanks to measures to spur young people to marry and have children, the trend in Japan has yet to show an upturn. —Reuters, NBC News, 27 Feb. 2025

City have been struggling for nearly four months and there is still no upturn in sight. —Sam Lee, The Athletic, 12 Feb. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1567, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1864, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for upturn

• adjourn
• concern
• decern
• discern
• downturn
• extern
• heartburn
• interne
• nocturne
• return
• sunburn
• unworn

Kids Definition

upturn

1 of 2 verb

up·​turn ˈəp-ˌtərn 

ˌəp-ˈtərn

1

: to turn up or over

an upturned boat

2

: to turn or direct upward

upturned faces

upturn

2 of 2 noun

up·​turn ˈəp-ˌtərn 

: an upward turning (as toward better conditions or higher prices)