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.

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capsize British  

/ kæpˈsaɪz /

verb

1. to overturn accidentally; upset

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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

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Etymology

Origin of capsize

First recorded in 1780–90; origin uncertain

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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

“No single film is going to capsize the boat,” said Stephen Galloway, dean of the Dodge College of Film and Media Arts at Chapman University.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 2, 2026

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

He also said that the maximum capacities of passenger boats should be clearly indicated to avoid overloading, which is often one of the causes when boats capsize.

From BBC ● Jul. 20, 2026

Percy tried to summon the waves, hoping he could push the ships apart or even capsize the enemy vessel, but nothing happened.

From "The Mark of Athena" by Rick Riordan

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

It is the latest in a string of migrant boat capsizes off Tunisia's coast in the last few days, with five others sinking in the past four days.

From BBC ● Mar. 26, 2023

“I’d sum up our season as a wild ride. It has had everything: crashes, capsizes, broken bones, collisions, you name it we’ve been there,” he said.

From Seattle Times ● Jan. 27, 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

One man was killed and two people were hospitalized after their fishing boat struck rocks and capsized beneath the Golden Gate Bridge on Thursday, according to the Marin County Sheriff’s Office.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 18, 2026

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

Passengers said the boat had begun taking on water before it capsized about four nautical miles into the journey.

From Barron's ● Aug. 31, 2026

A passenger boat with some 270 people on board has capsized off northern Cyprus, with a search and rescue operation under way.

From BBC ● Aug. 30, 2026

One of Octavian’s onagers capsized and disappeared into the side of the hill.

From "Blood of Olympus" by Rick Riordan

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

Most of these events are likely glacial earthquakes due to capsizing icebergs.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 30, 2026

In a statement, the coast guard said Malta had requested help in the search and rescue operation "following the capsizing of a vessel reported with migrants aboard and people in the water".

From BBC ● Jun. 8, 2026

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

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 28, 2025

Thanks to the low center of gravity, Kendra found that leaning was enough to prevent the boat from capsizing, but the naiads were relentless.

From "Fablehaven" by Brandon Mull

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