upset

1 of 3

verb

up·​set (ˌ)əp-ˈset 

upset; upsetting

transitive verb

1

: to thicken and shorten (something, such as a heated bar of iron) by hammering on the end : swage

2

: to force out of the usual upright, level, or proper position : overturn

3

a

: to trouble mentally or emotionally : disturb the poise of

the news upset me

b

: to throw into disorder

c

: invalidate

d

: to defeat unexpectedly

was upset in the primary

4

: to cause a physical disorder in

specifically : to make somewhat ill

spicy food upsets my stomach

intransitive verb

: to become overturned

upsetter noun

upset

2 of 3

noun

up·​set ˈəp-ˌset 

1

: an act of overturning : overturn

2

a(1)

: an act of throwing into disorder : disarrangement

(2)

: a state of disorder : confusion

b

: an unexpected defeat

3

a

: a minor physical disorder

a stomach upset

b

: an emotional disturbance

went through a big upset after his father's death

4

a

: a part of a rod (such as the head on a bolt) that is upset

b

: the expansion of a bullet on striking

upset

3 of 3

adjective

up·​set (ˌ)əp-ˈset 

1

: emotionally disturbed or agitated

was too upset to speak to him

2

: affected with minor physical disturbance or disorder

an upset stomach

Phrases

upset the apple cart

: to disturb or overturn a natural or stable order

Synonyms

Verb

• agitate
• ail
• alarm
• alarum
• bother
• concern
• derail
• discomfort
• discompose
• dismay
• disquiet
• distemper
• distract
• distress
• disturb
• exercise
• flurry
• frazzle
• freak (out)
• fuss
• hagride
• perturb
• undo
• unhinge
• unsettle
• weird out
• worry

Noun

• derangement
• dislocation
• disruption
• disturbance

Adjective

• aflutter
• antsy
• anxious
• atwitter
• dithery
• edgy
• goosey
• het up
• hinky [slang]
• hung up
• ill at ease
• insecure
• jittery
• jumpy
• nervous
• nervy
• perturbed
• queasy
• queazy
• tense
• troubled
• uneasy
• unquiet
• uptight
• worried

Choose the Right Synonym for upset

discompose, disquiet, disturb, perturb, agitate, upset, fluster mean to destroy capacity for collected thought or decisive action.

discompose implies some degree of loss of self-control or self-confidence especially through emotional stress.

discomposed by the loss of his beloved wife

disquiet suggests loss of sense of security or peace of mind.

the disquieting news of factories closing

disturb implies interference with one's mental processes caused by worry, perplexity, or interruption.

the discrepancy in accounts disturbed me

perturb implies deep disturbance of mind and emotions.

perturbed by her husband's strange behavior

agitate suggests obvious external signs of nervous or emotional excitement.

in his agitated state we could see he was unable to work

upset implies the disturbance of normal or habitual functioning by disappointment, distress, or grief.

the family's constant bickering upsets the youngest child

fluster suggests bewildered agitation.

his declaration of love completely flustered her

Examples of upset in a Sentence

Verb

That remark you made really upset me.

Don't upset yourself over it.

It upsets him that he can do nothing to help.

A lot of people were upset by the court's decision.

It upsets me to think I might never see him again.

Spicy food upsets my stomach.

Noun

In a major upset, he took the gold medal.

Her victory in the election was a big upset.

Spicy foods can cause stomach upset.

An emotional upset can affect your physical health.

a period of emotional upset

Adjective

I was feeling upset by the whole experience.

There's no point in getting all upset about it.

I try not to let her make me upset.

She was too upset to speak to him.

I'm upset that you didn't call.

I was so upset with him, I didn't call him for two weeks.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The suspect, a 62-year-old man identified only by his surname, Fan, was said to be upset by the division of property after his divorce. —Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024

But a poll by the University of Southern California and California State University taken in September showed that most District 12 others remained undecided, which Tran seized as giving her a chance to upset Simon come election day. —Chase Hunter, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024

Noun

Politics This Democrat pulled off one of the country’s biggest upsets. —Mark Z. Barabak, Los Angeles Times, 1 Nov. 2024

But last week's slate still included outright wins by the Cardinals (4.5-point underdogs in Miami and the headliners of our Week 8 upsets column), Rams (2.5-point home underdogs vs. Minnesota) and Browns. —Marco Rubio, Newsweek, 1 Nov. 2024

Adjective

New York 17th District GOP Rep. Mike Lawler won his first term in 2022, marking an upset against then-Rep. Sean Patrick Maloney, the chair of House Democrats' campaign arm. —Tal Axelrod, ABC News, 4 Nov. 2024

Stevenson is clearly upset after the events that transpired leading to the Bears losing on a last-second Hail Mary pass. —David Faris, Newsweek, 3 Nov. 2024

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1677, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1804, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1805, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing upset

• upset price

Kids Definition

upset

1 of 3 verb

up·​set (ˌ)əp-ˈset 

upset; upsetting

1

: to force or be forced out of the usual position : overturn

2

a

: to worry, anger, or cause unhappiness to

the news upset me

b

: to make somewhat ill

spicy food upsets my stomach

3

a

: to throw into disorder

b

: to defeat unexpectedly

upset

2 of 3 noun

up·​set ˈəp-ˌset 

1

: an act or result of upsetting : a state of being upset

2

a

: a minor illness

a stomach upset

b

: a period of worry or unhappiness

upset

3 of 3 adjective

up·​set (ˌ)əp-ˈset 

: emotionally disturbed or shaken up

was too upset to talk

Medical Definition

upset

1 of 3 transitive verb

up·​set (ˌ)əp-ˈset 

upset; upsetting

1

: to trouble mentally or emotionally

the news upset me

2

: to cause a physical disorder in

specifically : to make somewhat ill

greasy food upsets my stomach

upset

2 of 3 noun

up·​set ˈəp-ˌset 

1

: a minor physical disorder

a stomach upset

2

: an emotional disturbance

upset

3 of 3 adjective

up·​set (ˌ)əp-ˈset 

1

: affected with a minor physical disturbance

an upset stomach

2

: emotionally disturbed or agitated

was too upset to speak