upend

verb

up·​end ˌəp-ˈend 

upended; upending; upends

transitive verb

1

: to set or stand on end

also : overturn sense 1

2

a

: to affect to the point of being upset or flurried

a … literary shocker, designed to upend the credulous matrons

—Wolcott Gibbs

b

: defeat, beat

intransitive verb

: to rise on an end

Synonyms

• beat
• best
• conquer
• defeat
• dispatch
• do down [British]
• get
• get around
• lick
• master
• overbear
• overcome
• overmatch
• prevail (over)
• skunk
• stop
• subdue
• surmount
• take
• trim
• triumph (over)
• win (against)
• worst

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

Judges weighing plea deals typically do not upend them over issues that the parties to the agreement have not disputed. —Mike Spector, USA TODAY, 6 Dec. 2024

In this way, Bon upends conventional thought to ask what if concrete infrastructure supports nature rather than suppressing it? —Tom Teicholz, Forbes, 5 Dec. 2024

Should President-elect Trump pick Gov. Ron DeSantis to lead the Defense Department (and should DeSantis accept), his exit would upend Florida's political landscape and scramble its government. —Yacob Reyes, Axios, 4 Dec. 2024

While cancer has upended the Lopez family, which includes 8-year-old Aaliyah and 20-year-old Izabella, the family is getting some help from members of Austin's chapter of the National Council of Jewish Women, which focuses on social justice at the local, state and national level. —Nicole Villalpando, Austin American-Statesman, 2 Dec. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Kids Definition

upend

verb

up·​end ˌə-ˈpend 

: to set, stand, or rise on end