upset

[verb, adjective uhp-set; noun uhp-set]

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR upset ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used with object), up·set, up·set·ting.

to overturn: to upset a pitcher of milk.

to disturb mentally or emotionally; perturb: The incident upset her.

to disturb or derange completely; put out of order; throw into disorder: to upset a system; to upset a mechanism; to upset an apartment.

to disturb physically: It upset his stomach.

to defeat or overthrow an opponent that is considered more formidable, as in war, politics, or sports.

Metalworking. to thicken the end of (a piece of heated metal) by hammering on the end against the length of the piece.

verb (used without object), up·set, up·set·ting.

to become upset or overturned.

noun

an upsetting or instance of being upset; overturn; overthrow.

the defeat of a person, team, etc., that is considered more formidable.

a nervous, irritable state of mind.

a disordered or confused arrangement.

Metalworking.

a tool used for upsetting.
something that is upset, as a bar end.

adjective

overturned: an upset milk pail.

disordered; disorganized: The house is upset.

distressed; disturbed: She had an upset stomach. He is emotionally upset.

Archaic. raised up.

Origin of upset

1300–50; Middle English: raised up; see up-, set

Related formsup·set·ta·ble, adjectiveup·set·ter, nounup·set·ting·ly, adverbun·up·set, adjectiveun·up·set·ta·ble, adjective

Synonyms for upset

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR upset ON THESAURUS.COM

1. Upset, capsize, overturn imply a change from an upright or other stable position to a prostrate one. Upset is a familiar word, applied to simple, everyday actions: to upset a table, a glass of water. Capsize is applied especially to the upsetting of a boat or other vessel: to capsize a canoe. Overturn usually suggests violence in upsetting something supposedly stable: The earthquake overturned houses. All three are used figuratively, also: to upset the stock market; to capsize a plan; to overturn a government. 2. unnerve, disconcert, fluster. 5. depose, displace. 10. perturbation, disturbance. 11. mess. 15. disconcerted, agitated, perturbed, annoyed.

Antonyms for upset

2, 3. steady.

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Related Words for upset

disturb, unsettle, spoil, dismay, bewilder, perturb, unnerve, distract, agitate, beat, win, overcome, overpower, outplay, disordered, confused, shocked, low, sick, agitated

Examples from the Web for upset

Contemporary Examples of upset

“I would recommend ginger tea first thing in the morning as a great way to ward off an upset stomach,” says White.
5 Hangover Cures to Save You After a Few Too Many
DailyBurn
December 19, 2014
Hitchcock reacts as if he has an upset stomach--and that I gave it to him.
Alfred Hitchcock’s Fade to Black: The Great Director’s Final Days
David Freeman
December 13, 2014
I thought if I cooperated it would make it better… I was so upset that day.
Exclusive: Michael Phelps’s Intersex Self-Proclaimed Girlfriend, Taylor Lianne Chandler, Tells All
Aurora Snow
November 26, 2014
First, seeing my father in the middle of his row crying, and thinking, Why is dad so upset?
All Eyes on Anjelica Huston: The Legendary Actress on Love, Abuse, and Jack Nicholson
Alex Suskind
November 10, 2014
And two, that as a public official you can make tough choices, do the right things for the right reasons, and upset some people.
Meet Gina Raimondo, the Only Democratic Star of 2014
David Freedlander
November 6, 2014

Historical Examples of upset

Supposing—— It was cruel to excite and upset her just for that; it made the pain worse.
Life and Death of Harriett Frean
May Sinclair
I've been getting along all right; now you come and upset everything.
K
Mary Roberts Rinehart
The arrival of Winkleman would, he secretly admitted, upset him completely.
The Leopard Woman
Stewart Edward White
"I wouldn't let a thing like that upset me if I was you," she said.
The Foolish Lovers
St. John G. Ervine
"Well, why don't you say upset, you horrible old Orangeman," she retorted.
The Foolish Lovers
St. John G. Ervine

British Dictionary definitions for upset

upset

verb (ʌpˈsɛt) -sets, -setting or -set (mainly tr)

(also intr) to tip or be tipped over; overturn, capsize, or spill

to disturb the normal state, course, or stability ofto upset the balance of nature

to disturb mentally or emotionally

to defeat or overthrow, usually unexpectedly

to make physically illseafood always upsets my stomach

to thicken or spread (the end of a bar, rivet, etc) by forging, hammering, or swagging

noun (ˈʌpˌsɛt)

an unexpected defeat or reversal, as in a contest or plans

a disturbance or disorder of the emotions, body, etc

a tool used to upset a bar or rivet; swage

a forging or bar that has been upset in preparation for further processing

adjective (ʌpˈsɛt)

overturned or capsized

emotionally or physically disturbed or distressed

disordered; confused

defeated or overthrown

Derived Formsupsettable, adjectiveupsetter, nounupsetting, adjectiveupsettingly, adverb

Word Origin for upset

C14 (in the sense: to set up, erect; C19 in the sense: to overthrow); related to Middle High German ūfsetzen to put on, Middle Dutch opzetten

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Word Origin and History for upset

mid-15c., "to set up, fix," from up + set (v.). Cf. Middle Dutch opsetten, German aufsetzen. Modern sense of "overturn, capsize" (1803) is that of obsolete overset. Meaning "to throw into mental discomposure" is from 1805. The noun sense of "overturning of a vehicle or boat" is recorded from 1804.