upset

American  

[uhp-set, uhp-set] / ʌpˈsɛt, ˈʌpˌsɛt /

verb (used with object)

• upsets,
  present (3rd person singular)
• upset,
  past participle,  past
• upsetting
  present participle

1. to overturn.

   to upset a pitcher of milk.

2. to disturb mentally or emotionally; perturb.

   The incident upset her.

   Synonyms:

   fluster, disconcert, unnerve

   Antonyms:

   steady

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.

   Antonyms:

   steady

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.

   Synonyms:

   displace, depose

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)

• upsets,
  present (3rd person singular)
• upset,
  past participle,  past
• upsetting
  present participle

1. to become upset or overturned.

noun

• upsets
  plural

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.

   Synonyms:

   disturbance, perturbation

4. a disordered or confused arrangement.

   Synonyms:

   mess

5. Metalworking.

   1. a tool used for upsetting.

   2. something that is upset, as a bar end.

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.

   Synonyms:

   annoyed, agitated, disconcerted

4. Archaic. raised up.

upset British  

verb

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

2. to disturb the normal state, course, or stability of

   to upset the balance of nature

3. to disturb mentally or emotionally

4. to defeat or overthrow, usually unexpectedly

5. to make physically ill

   seafood 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

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

adjective

1. overturned or capsized

2. emotionally or physically disturbed or distressed

3. disordered; confused

4. defeated or overthrown

Synonym Usage

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.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• upsetter
  noun
• unupset
  adjective
• unupsettable
  adjective
• upsettable
  adjective
• upsetting
  adjective
• upsettingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• upsets
  plural

Participles

• upsetting
  present
• upset
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• upset
  simple
• upsets
  simple
• have upset
  perfect
• has upset
  perfect
• am upsetting
  progressive
• are upsetting
  progressive
• is upsetting
  progressive
• have been upsetting
  perfect progressive
• has been upsetting
  perfect progressive

Past

• upset
  simple
• had upset
  perfect
• was upsetting
  progressive
• were upsetting
  progressive
• had been upsetting
  perfect progressive

Future

• will upset
  simple
• will have upset
  perfect
• will be upsetting
  progressive
• will have been upsetting
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of upset

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English: “raised up”; see up-, set

Explanation

To be upset is to be disturbed or very unhappy. You can be upset, and you can also upset someone — but you probably didn’t mean to. Upset has multiple senses. It generally refers to something that has been knocked over, turned upside down, or disturbed. Just as your coffee cup can be upset — knocked over or disturbed –- so can your emotions –- and your stomach. Upset can also refer to an unexpected victory. You might be so upset by the upset of your favorite team that you upset your table in frustration.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

upset upsets upsetting

Offended and upset, some fans demanded an apology - but the band's record label, forbade the members from issuing a statement.

From BBC ● Oct. 10, 2026

It was the biggest upset in the Cowboys’ history.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 8, 2026

But Ely, 87, is not upset to see the Brunel make way for flats and a health centre, with only some retail space.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

“But I’m also upset as a fan of these players and someone who’s been invested in this league of almost 10 years.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 6, 2026

“It was addressed to me at the podcast office downtown. I didn’t tell anyone, but that’s another reason why I was so upset about losing the internship. I knew I wouldn’t hear from Mom again.”

From "South of Somewhere" by Kalena Miller

They claim North Carolina, vanquish Collins, and spring upsets in Texas and Alaska.

From Salon ● Aug. 10, 2026

They were painstakingly close to achieving one of the tournament's great upsets against Argentina, leading 2-0 with just minutes left to play before the defending champions staged an astonishing 3-2 comeback win.

From Barron's ● Jul. 10, 2026

Americans have turned out in droves to watch this summer’s World Cup, shattering TV viewership records to catch underdog upsets, late-game goals and, on Monday night, the U.S. team’s loss to Belgium.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 7, 2026

We have seen all 48 teams in action across three countries over a jam-packed seven days, with 75 goals scored and a smattering of upsets, individual brilliance and controversy.

From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026

In America, farmers have repeatedly traded one insect enemy for a worse one as spraying upsets the population dynamics of the insect world.

From "Silent Spring" by Rachel Carson

At other times, she regrets upsetting their relationship, confirming her servile status despite the fact that she is responsible for Elisabet’s care.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 9, 2026

Bad things happen when good people stand by and say nothing, even if they are trying to avoid rocking the boat, fear upsetting people or risk ruining a relationship.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026

This decision, though, was so upsetting that it drew a sharp dissent from Justice Sonia Sotomayor.

From Slate ● Oct. 1, 2026

Edel Diamond from South-West Belfast Foodbank on the Stewartstown Road said they are struggling with stock which is "really upsetting because you've got families coming to you that aren't really coping".

From BBC ● Sep. 24, 2026

I got up at once, shaking the table clumsily as I moved my chair, and upsetting Giles’s glass of port.

From "Rebecca" by Daphne du Maurier

Related Words

• agitate
• bewilder
• dismay
• distract
• disturb
• perturb
• unnerve
• unsettle