capsize

verb

cap·​size ˈkap-ˌsīz 

kap-ˈsīz

capsized; capsizing

transitive verb

: to cause to overturn

capsize a canoe

intransitive verb

: to become upset or overturned : turn over

the canoe capsized

capsize noun

Synonyms

• overturn
• turn over
• upset

Examples of capsize in a Sentence

They were fooling around and accidentally capsized the canoe.

a huge wave out of nowhere caused our little sailboat to capsize

Recent Examples on the Web

Authorities were notified that the boat capsized near Torrey Pines State Beach in San Diego at around 6:30 a.m. local time, a Coast Guard official told CBS News at the time. —Brenton Blanchet, People.com, 31 May 2025

This past month, when North Korea launched its second destroyer, the ship capsized, prompting an angry Mr. Kim to order the arrests of several officials. —Choe Sang-Hun, New York Times, 31 May 2025

Almost 10 months after a Texas family’s boat capsized off the coast of Homer, Alaska, a search turned up human remains at the bottom of the bay. —Christina Shaw, FOXNews.com, 29 May 2025

Border Patrol issued a search warrant May 16 for multiple cell phones belonging to smugglers and migrants aboard the panga boat that capsized in Del Mar earlier this month, leaving three confirmed dead. —Luke Harold, Mercury News, 23 May 2025

Word History

Etymology

perhaps from Spanish capuzar or Catalan cabussar to thrust (the head) underwater

First Known Use

1778, in the meaning defined at transitive sense

Rhymes for capsize

• advise
• applies
• apprise
• arise
• assize
• baptize
• belies
• bitwise
• chastise
• chordwise
• clockwise
• coastwise

Kids Definition

capsize

verb

cap·​size ˈkap-ˌsīz 

kap-ˈsīz

capsized; capsizing

: to become or cause to become upset or overturned : turn over

canoes capsize easily