over·turn
ˌō-vər-ˈtərn 
overturned; overturning; overturns
1
: to cause to turn over : upset
overturned the vase
2
a
: invalidate, destroy
the degree to which accident could overturn the schemes of wise men—
Oscar Handlin
Oscar Handlin
b
: reverse sense 2a
overturn a court ruling
over·turn
ˈō-vər-ˌtərn
1
: the act of overturning : the state of being overturned
2
: the sinking of surface water and rise of bottom water in a lake or sea that results from changes in temperature that commonly occur in spring and fall
Examples of overturn in a Sentence
Verb
The dog overturned the bowl.
The truck went off the road and overturned several times.
The court overturned his conviction.
Recent Examples on the Web
Andrew McGowan, Variety, 23 Oct. 2025
To break the encryption would mean finding a fast solution to these supposedly infeasible problems, an act that would overturn a foundational assumption of modern math.
—Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 22 Oct. 2025
Ilana Arougheti
july 17, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2025
It was enacted after the 2022 overturn of Roe v. Wade.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for overturn
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Verb
His sentence was 15 years in prison with 10 years suspended, but the conviction was overturned for insufficient evidence four months in.
—Andrew McGowan, Variety, 23 Oct. 2025
To break the encryption would mean finding a fast solution to these supposedly infeasible problems, an act that would overturn a foundational assumption of modern math.
—Jack Murtagh, Scientific American, 22 Oct. 2025
Noun
Legislators are expected to vote Friday on a potential overturn of the veto.
—Ilana Arougheti
july 17, Kansas City Star, 17 July 2025
It was enacted after the 2022 overturn of Roe v. Wade.
—Bailey Richards, People.com, 29 June 2025
See All Example Sentences for overturn
Cite this Entry
“Overturn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overturn. Accessed 31 Oct. 2025.
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