upside down

American  

adverb

1. with the upper part undermost.

2. in or into complete disorder; topsy-turvy.

   The burglars turned the house upside down.

---

upside down British  

adjective

1. (usually postpositive; upside-down when prenominal) turned over completely; inverted

2. informal (upside-down when prenominal) confused; muddled; topsy-turvy

   an upside-down world

---

adverb

1. in an inverted fashion

2. in a chaotic or crazy manner

Other Word Forms

• upside-downness
  noun
• upside-down
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of upside down

1300–50; re-formation ( see upside) of Middle English upsedoun, earlier up so doun ( see up, so ¹, down ¹; sense of so obscure)

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

upside down

This argument says it’s a power flex, they’re saying they can turn the world upside down, you want to get in on it, right?

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 17, 2026

Speeds will reach 50 mph, and the coaster will boast five inversions that will take guests upside down.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 10, 2026

Cregg on Big Block of Cheese Day to lobby for a change to the map, blowing her mind in the process by literally turning her world upside down.

From Salon ● Sep. 10, 2026

"Their lives have been turned upside down through no fault of their own. They will be going through hell."

From BBC ● Aug. 18, 2026

Fortunately, the loops around his legs held firm, and instead of falling completely off the beanstalk, Jack found himself suspended upside down over nothing.

From "Half Upon a Time" by James Riley