topsy-turvy
Americanadverb
-
with the top where the bottom should be; upside down.
-
in or into a reversed condition or order.
-
in or into a state of confusion or disorder.
adjective
-
turned upside down; inverted; reversed.
a topsy-turvy reflection.
-
confused or disorderly.
a topsy-turvy classroom.
noun
plural
topsy-turvies-
inversion of the natural order.
-
a state of confusion or disorder.
adjective
-
upside down
-
in a state of confusion
adverb
noun
Other Word Forms
- topsy-turvily adverb
- topsyturviness noun
Etymology
Origin of topsy-turvy
1520–30; perhaps variant of top syd turvye topside down (with loss of d before t ); turvy, variant of tervy, equivalent to obsolete terve to turn over (cognate with Old High German zerben ) + -y 1
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
The sequel is, like its predecessor, wall-to-wall animated frenzy, with chases, fights and handsomely detailed set pieces such as a topsy-turvy casino land where characters walk on walls and ceilings.
From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 31, 2026
In a topsy-turvy fourth quarter, the Lakers came up short when LeBron James missed a last-second shot that sent L.A. to a 110-109 loss to the Magic on Tuesday night at Crypto.com Arena.
From Los Angeles Times • Feb. 25, 2026
In a moment of less acute emergency, there are good reasons to fix that topsy-turvy situation.
From Slate • Feb. 4, 2026
Montpellier edged Bordeaux-Begles 28-24 in a topsy-turvy encounter.
From Barron's • Nov. 29, 2025
“Is that proper, do you think? Wouldn’t that make this into some kind of topsy-turvy, wrong-headed world if a king played music for a bug?”
From "The Tale of Despereaux: Being the Story of a Mouse, a Princess, Some Soup and a Spool of Thread" by Kate DiCamillo
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
