upend

verb

up·​end ˌəp-ˈend How to pronounce upend (audio)
upended; upending; upends
Synonyms of upendnext

transitive verb

1
: to set or stand on end
also : overturn sense 1
upended the bucket to use as a stool
2
a
: to affect to the point of being upset or flurried
… a … literary shocker, designed to upend the credulous matrons …Wolcott Gibbs
b

intransitive verb

: to rise on an end

Examples of upend in a Sentence

He upended the bicycle to fix its flat tire. I upended the bucket to use as a stool. The security inspector upended my bag and dumped everything out. A giant wave upended the surfers. The midfielder was upended before he got the ball.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The war has upended the travel industry, too, with forecasters estimating airfares — which have jumped sixfold on some routes — will remain high for months. Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 26 Mar. 2026 The animation and visual effects business north of the border is itself being upended by major studios and streamers reducing blockbuster movie budgets and cutting production, and as the threat of artificial intelligence on the sectors to limit jobs and careers grows. Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 26 Mar. 2026 Amid the increasingly damning reports on the rising threat of America’s runaway deficits and debt, the looming disaster that could upend the lifestyle of tens of millions of elderly Americans is getting scant attention. Shawn Tully, Fortune, 26 Mar. 2026 Hanks plays the pitching coach of a major league hurler whose life is upended when he is hit in the head by a line drive on the mound. Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 26 Mar. 2026 See All Example Sentences for upend

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of upend was in 1823

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Cite this Entry

“Upend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upend. Accessed 28 Mar. 2026.

Kids Definition

upend

verb
up·​end ˌə-ˈpend How to pronounce upend (audio)
: to set, stand, or rise on end

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