capsize

American  

[kap-sahyz, kap-sahyz] / ˈkæp saɪz, kæpˈsaɪz /

verb (used with or without object)

• capsizes,
  present (3rd person singular)
• capsized,
  past participle,  past
• capsizing
  present participle

1. to turn bottom up; overturn: With a strong kick he capsized the stool.

   The ferry capsized and sank in minutes.

   With a strong kick he capsized the stool.

2. to upset or collapse: He has a secret that could capsize his career.

   Their marriage almost capsized when they lost their only child.

   He has a secret that could capsize his career.

---

capsize British  

/ kæpˈsaɪz /

verb

1. to overturn accidentally; upset

---

Synonym Usage

See upset.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• capsizal
  noun
• capsizable
  adjective
• noncapsizable
  adjective
• uncapsizable
  adjective
• uncapsized
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• capsizing
  present
• capsized
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• capsize
  simple
• capsizes
  simple
• have capsized
  perfect
• has capsized
  perfect
• am capsizing
  progressive
• are capsizing
  progressive
• is capsizing
  progressive
• have been capsizing
  perfect progressive
• has been capsizing
  perfect progressive

Past

• capsized
  simple
• had capsized
  perfect
• was capsizing
  progressive
• were capsizing
  progressive
• had been capsizing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will capsize
  simple
• will have capsized
  perfect
• will be capsizing
  progressive
• will have been capsizing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of capsize

First recorded in 1780–90; origin uncertain

Explanation

To capsize is to overturn, and it usually happens to boats. Don't rock the boat, baby, or you might just capsize. When a boat tips over in a lake, it capsizes, and so does a boy who is sitting on an inner tube when it flips suddenly. Anything overturning in a body of water can be said to capsize. Sometimes vessels that capsize can be righted, like a canoe, and other times they sink to the bottom of the sea. The origin of capsize is uncertain, though it may be related to the Spanish word capuzar, "sink by the head."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

capsize capsizes capsized capsizing

When these icebergs capsize, they clash violently with the “mother” glacier.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026

Their crews are at risk if the ships are damaged, and the vessels could capsize if they are in the vicinity of giant ice chunks breaking off glaciers, a process called calving.

From Barron's ● Aug. 26, 2026

The boat launched from near the St. Francis Yacht Club, and it is currently unclear what caused it to capsize.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 14, 2026

“The supply shocks from either would already rock the boat; both together would capsize global markets like a perfect storm,” said Raj.

From MarketWatch ● Jan. 12, 2026

If the ropes snapped while the Mykali was steaming out to sea, the shock might capsize the vessel, sturdy as it was.

From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler

In riverine communities, whereas a high proportion of men often know how to swim, few women do, meaning they are particularly at risk if a boat capsizes.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

Until that date is set we can only quote what Helly tells Mark S. before he turns on himself and capsizes our expectations.

From Salon ● Mar. 22, 2025

The American boat had a number of capsizes and crashes, including one in which wing trimmer Paul Campbell-James broke a leg.

From Seattle Times ● May 13, 2022

In that scene, her character, Maria, falls into the water along with the seven Von Trapp children as the boat capsizes.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 19, 2019

Shop signs swing toward the heat from their brackets; a potted hedge comes sliding across the rubble and capsizes.

From "All the Light We Cannot See" by Anthony Doerr

Their fishing boat capsized on Saturday, leaving Aghnaanga without food or water for two days at sea, the boy's mother wrote on Facebook.

From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026

Footage from the scene broadcast by Turkish television showed the capsized ferry with passengers wearing life jackets sitting atop its orange hull.

From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026

A Coast Guard investigation found the boat was overloaded and didn’t have any child or infant-sized life jackets when it capsized near the Statue of Liberty at around 10.20 p.m.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 20, 2026

At least 46 people have died in Nigeria after a boat capsized in north-western Sokoto state.

From BBC ● Aug. 20, 2026

Each one weighed no more than twenty-seven pounds to ensure that it would float if a canoe capsized.

From "Death on the River of Doubt" by Samantha Seiple

The rip currents and massive surf are capable of capsizing small boats, knocking people off jetties and pulling swimmers out to sea.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 7, 2026

However, these were consistently located 60–80 kilometres from the waterfront, so they are not likely to have been caused by capsizing icebergs.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026

Abdoul Aziz Balde sobbed as he spoke of his son Idrissa, who left Guinea in search of a better future, but has not been heard from since capsizing off the Moroccan coast.

From Barron's ● Dec. 17, 2025

Before the U.S. military strikes, he said, his main concerns were capsizing, drowning and arrest.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 28, 2025

He saw Coach Hedge struggling to keep the ship from capsizing.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan