upturn

American  

[uhp-turn, uhp-turn, uhp-turn] / ʌpˈtɜrn, ˈʌpˌtɜrn, ˈʌpˌtɜrn /

verb (used with object)

1. to turn up or over.

   The farmer upturned clumps of sod with his spade.

2. to cause disorder; upheave.

   The storm upturned the town.

3. to direct or turn upward.

   She upturned her face toward heaven and prayed.

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verb (used without object)

1. to turn up or upward.

   Her eyes upturned to see his face.

noun

1. chaos or extreme disorder, as in society; an upheaval.

2. an upward turn, or a changing and rising movement, as in prices or business.

upturn British  

verb

1. to turn or cause to turn up, over, or upside down

2. (tr) to create disorder

3. (tr) to direct upwards

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noun

1. an upward turn, trend, or improvement

2. an upheaval or commotion

Etymology

Origin of upturn

1300–50; Middle English: to overturn; up-, turn

Example Sentences

Former United midfielder Carrick, 44, came in after the sacking of Ruben Amorim in January and has overseen a significant upturn in form.

From BBC • Mar. 14, 2026

Southeast Asia markets including the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand joined the upturn too.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

Business surveys also pointed to a solid upturn in activity in January, while retail sales rose in the run-up to the Christmas period.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 12, 2026

But that isn’t leading to a corresponding upturn for AI chip makers like Nvidia.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

The former snout now curves into a slight upturn at the tip.

From "The Belles" by Dhonielle Clayton

Related Words

• recovery
• upswing