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

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

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

Economists polled by The Wall Street Journal last week had expected an upturn to minus 23.0.

From The Wall Street Journal • Feb. 25, 2026

Despite United's recent upturn in form since the appointment of the former midfielder, these are challenging times for Ratcliffe and his business Ineos, the petrochemicals firm he founded and leads.

From BBC • Feb. 16, 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