upend

verb

up·​end ˌəp-ˈend 

upended; upending; upends

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

• defeat
• overcome
• master
• take
• beat
• worst
• conquer
• get
• best
• stop

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

While Danny uncovers Chad's secret early on in the season and helps keep his secret, Ricky doesn't find out until the finale -- a revelation that upends their friendship and leaves audiences wondering where the two stand. — Angeline Jane Bernabe, ABC News, 3 Sep. 2026

In 2008, controversial comments from Barack Obama’s former pastor Jeremiah Wright threatened to upend Obama’s bid for the White House. — Elaine Godfrey, The Atlantic, 3 Sep. 2026

But the start of the war with Iran in February upended that trajectory, as a spike in oil prices raised fears that inflation could flare up again, said Chen Zhao, an economist at Redfin. — Samantha Delouya, CNN Money, 3 Sep. 2026

The accusation has upended the race in Joplin, a safe Republican district. — Jack Harvel, Kansas City Star, 3 Sep. 2026

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for upend

• amend
• append
• ascend
• attend
• backend
• befriend
• boyfriend
• commend
• compend
• contend
• defend
• depend

Kids Definition

upend

verb

up·​end ˌə-ˈpend 

: to set, stand, or rise on end