upend

verb

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

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
: defeat, beat

intransitive verb

: to rise on an end

Synonyms of upend

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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.
But with recent legislation that upended zoning laws across the state, many more lots — including vacant ones — are now open for development of small-scale complexes, each of which can be sold individually. — Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 7 Aug. 2026 The conflict has also upended the security of Riyadh’s Gulf allies and shut down most shipping in the Strait of Hormuz, the route for about a fifth of global energy supplies before the war. — Reuters, NBC news, 7 Aug. 2026 The justices said the president cannot change the definition of birthright citizenship with the stroke of a pen, and that Trump’s push threatened to upend how the constitutional guarantee had historically been understood. — Michael Loria, USA Today, 7 Aug. 2026 The immigration crackdown has upended the life of Patricia Grace Louis-Jacques, a nursing student at Salisbury University who has family members and friends affected by the end of TPS. — ABC News, 5 Aug. 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

Rhymes for upend

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Browse Nearby Words

updraw
upend
upeygan
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Cite this Entry

“Upend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upend. Accessed 9 Aug. 2026.

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Kids Definition

upend

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

More from Merriam-Webster on upend

Nglish: Translation of upend for Spanish Speakers

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