upset

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

/ verb, adjective ʌpˈsɛt; noun ˈʌpˌsɛt /

See synonyms for: upset / upsetting / upsetter 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.

SYNONYMS FOR upset

2 unnerve, disconcert, fluster.

5 depose, displace.

10 perturbation, disturbance.

11 mess.

15 disconcerted, agitated, perturbed, annoyed.

See synonyms for upset on Thesaurus.com

ANTONYMS FOR upset

2, 3 steady.

See antonyms for upset on Thesaurus.com

QUIZZES

LEARN THE SPANISH WORDS FOR THESE COMMON ANIMALS!

Are you learning Spanish? Or do you just have an interest in foreign languages? Either way, this quiz on Spanish words for animals is for you.

Question 1 of 13

How do you say “cat” 🐈 in Spanish?

gato/gata

cato/cata

gatto/gatta

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Origin of upset

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

synonym study for upset

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.

OTHER WORDS FROM upset

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

un·up·set·ta·ble, adjective

Words nearby upset

upsa-daisy, Upsala, ups and downs, upscale, up-sell, upset, upset price, upset the applecart, upsetting, upsetting lever, upsetting moment

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

Example sentences from the Web for upset

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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST

Independent Greg Orman is public enemy number one to Republicans today because he could upset their senate math toward a majority.
Independent Greg Orman Stands Up Against GOP Attacks|John Avlon|November 4, 2014|DAILY BEAST
He could not help, and it would only distress you to feel that he was upset.
About Peggy Saville|Mrs. G. de Horne Vaizey
I saw that what I had said had upset him, and that he was not at all clear as to how much or how little of the true facts I knew.
The Czar's Spy|William Le Queux
If stream line pull tends to upset this level keel, horizontal rudders may be used to correct it.
The Submarine in War and Peace|Simon Lake
Would not the sudden shock, joyful though it was, upset the fragile little beauty?
The King of Schnorrers|Israel Zangwill
Dishonour and prejudice would accrue to any sovereign who should upset the very nature of the constitution.
St George's Cross|H. G. Keene

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 forms of upset

upsettable, 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

MEANINGS

WORD GAMES

LEARN

WRITING

WORD OF THE DAY

upset

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

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