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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.
  1. to overturn: to upset a pitcher of milk.
  2. to disturb mentally or emotionally; perturb: The incident upset her.
  3. to disturb or derange completely; put out of order; throw into disorder: to upset a system; to upset a mechanism; to upset an apartment.
  4. to disturb physically: It upset his stomach.
  5. to defeat or overthrow an opponent that is considered more formidable, as in war, politics, or sports.
  6. Metalworking. to thicken the end of (a piece of heated metal) by hammering on the end against the length of the piece.
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verb (used without object), up·set, up·set·ting.
  1. to become upset or overturned.
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noun
  1. an upsetting or instance of being upset; overturn; overthrow.
  2. the defeat of a person, team, etc., that is considered more formidable.
  3. a nervous, irritable state of mind.
  4. a disordered or confused arrangement.
  5. Metalworking.
    1. a tool used for upsetting.
    2. something that is upset, as a bar end.
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adjective
  1. overturned: an upset milk pail.
  2. disordered; disorganized: The house is upset.
  3. distressed; disturbed: She had an upset stomach. He is emotionally upset.
  4. Archaic. raised up.
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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

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

2, 3. steady.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2018

Examples from the Web for upset

Contemporary Examples

Historical Examples

  • Supposing—— It was cruel to excite and upset her just for that; it made the pain worse.

  • 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)
  1. (also intr) to tip or be tipped over; overturn, capsize, or spill
  2. to disturb the normal state, course, or stability ofto upset the balance of nature
  3. to disturb mentally or emotionally
  4. to defeat or overthrow, usually unexpectedly
  5. to make physically illseafood always upsets my stomach
  6. to thicken or spread (the end of a bar, rivet, etc) by forging, hammering, or swagging
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noun (ˈʌpˌsɛt)
  1. an unexpected defeat or reversal, as in a contest or plans
  2. a disturbance or disorder of the emotions, body, etc
  3. a tool used to upset a bar or rivet; swage
  4. a forging or bar that has been upset in preparation for further processing
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adjective (ʌpˈsɛt)
  1. overturned or capsized
  2. emotionally or physically disturbed or distressed
  3. disordered; confused
  4. defeated or overthrown
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Derived Formsupsettable, adjectiveupsetter, nounupsetting, adjectiveupsettingly, adverb

Word Origin

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

v.

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.

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Online Etymology Dictionary, © 2010 Douglas Harper