top·sy-tur·vy
ˌtäp-sē-ˈtər-vē 
1
: in utter confusion or disorder
2
: with the top or head downward : upside down
: turned topsy-turvy : totally disordered
top·sy-tur·vy·dom
-dəm
plural -s
1
2
: a state, existence, or world in which everything is turned topsy-turvy
a quaint glimpse of topsy-turvydom; the laws of gravitation appear to be defied—
F. A. A. Talbot
F. A. A. TalbotExamples of topsy-turvy in a Sentence
Adjective
the office is still topsy-turvy even though we moved in months ago
Recent Examples on the Web
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Plus, an Aubry win was so dramatically satisfying after her topsy-turvy decade long run.
—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 May 2026
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
7 Jan. 2026
But then came a critical turning point in a topsy-turvy game.
—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2023
Pinsker’s characters always make the best of tricky situations, which only makes their struggles in her topsy-turvy worlds more heartbreaking.
—
Charlie Jane Anders,
Washington Post,
7 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for topsy-turvy
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Adverb
He was asked for his assessment of what’s been a topsy-turvy league this season.
—
Jen McCaffrey,
New York Times,
17 June 2026
Plus, an Aubry win was so dramatically satisfying after her topsy-turvy decade long run.
—
Dalton Ross,
Entertainment Weekly,
22 May 2026
Adjective
Given the topsy-turvy nature of the NHL standings this year outside of the top three teams in the Central Division, this might not matter a week or two from now, but there were seven other teams in the league with 52-plus points Wednesday morning.
—
Corey Masisak,
Denver Post,
7 Jan. 2026
But then came a critical turning point in a topsy-turvy game.
—
Chris Waugh,
New York Times,
7 Jan. 2026
Noun
Within that film’s topsy-turvy multiverse, Quan was by turns a laundromat owner on the verge of divorcing his wife, a dashing romantic lead and an action hero.
—
Mark Olsen,
Los Angeles Times,
12 Mar. 2023
Pinsker’s characters always make the best of tricky situations, which only makes their struggles in her topsy-turvy worlds more heartbreaking.
—
Charlie Jane Anders,
Washington Post,
7 Mar. 2023
See All Example Sentences for topsy-turvy
Cite this Entry
“Topsy-turvy.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/topsy-turvy. Accessed 2 Jul. 2026.
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