upside down

adverb

up·​side down ˈəp-ˌsīd-ˈdau̇n 

1

: in such a way that the upper and the lower parts are reversed in position

2

: in or into great disorder

turned their world upside down

upside-down

ˈəp-ˌsīd-ˈdau̇n 

adjective

Examples of upside down in a Sentence

You hung the picture upside down!

To remove the plant, turn the pot upside down and tap gently on the bottom to loosen it.

The baby was holding the book upside down.

Recent Examples on the Web

Each night, Portia settles upside down beneath its silk abode, alternating prolonged stillness with brief episodes of retinal movements, twitching, and occasional leg curling. — New Atlas, 2 Nov. 2026

It’s narrated by seventh grader Adam, whose world is turning upside down both at home and at school. — Literary Hub, 2 Nov. 2026

The aircraft crashed to the ground in a private farm field near McMinnville Municipal Airport, officials said, with a red helicopter left crumpled in pieces and a green helicopter lying upside down. — Emma Tucker, CNN Money, 30 Oct. 2026

For this moment in time there is Sarah Strong, with her cool, seemingly effortless efficiency masking fire within, and there is Braylon Mullins, that aw-shucks Indianan who turned March Madness upside down with one miraculous shot seven months ago. — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 30 Oct. 2026

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English up so doun, from up + so + doun down

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for upside down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Kids Definition

upside down

adverb

up·​side down ˌəp-ˌsīd-ˈdau̇n 

1

: with the upper part underneath and the lower part on top

2

: in or into great disorder

upside-down adjective

Legal Definition

upside down

adjective

: underwater

upside down mortgages

upside down homes

upside down homeowners