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.

---

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

---

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

The upturn in new business reflected improving domestic demand, which helped to offset a sustained decline in export sales,

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

Though he has come through lean patches previously, the upturn has not always been immediate.

From BBC • Feb. 25, 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

“Gosh a’mighty, I couldn’t hardly wait to upturn my dang nail keg!”

From "Cold Sassy Tree" by Olive Ann Burns

Related Words

• recovery
• upswing