overturn

verb

over·turn | \ ˌō-vər-ˈtərn

overturned; overturning; overturns

Definition of overturn

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to cause to turn over : upset overturned the vase

2a : invalidate, destroy the degree to which accident could overturn the schemes of wise men— Oscar Handlin

b : reverse sense 2a overturn a court ruling

intransitive verb

: upset, turn over The car went off the road and overturned several times.

overturn

noun

over·turn | \ ˈō-vər-ˌtərn

Definition of overturn (Entry 2 of 2)

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

Synonyms & Antonyms More Example Sentences Learn More about overturn

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Synonyms & Antonyms for overturn

Synonyms: Verb

capsize, turn over, upset

Antonyms: Verb

right

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: Verb

In the Senate, overturning a veto would require 67 votes if all 100 senators were present and voting. — Kristina Peterson, WSJ, "House Passes Bill Blocking Trump Border Emergency," 26 Feb. 2019 The Duke of Edinburgh was involved in a car accident yesterday near Sandringham, in which his vehicle, a Land Rover, overturned. — Caroline Hallemann, Town & Country, "Prince Philip Was Involved in a Car Accident Near Sandringham Yesterday," 18 Jan. 2019 Meek Mill’s attorneys are now trying to get his original conviction overturned. — Bridget Read, Vogue, "Meek Mill Announces Album Release Date, Talks Partnering With Jay-Z, and Wants to Free 1 Million People From Our Criminal Justice System," 14 Nov. 2018 As Ars reported previously, companies including Lyft have for months now lobbied lawmakers in Sacramento to draft new legislation that would effectively overturn the Dynamex standard. — Cyrus Farivar, Ars Technica, "Lyft drivers sue, argue that they’re employees rather than contractors," 2 Nov. 2018 Abraham Lincoln, the best Aquarius, overturned slavery. — Amanda Mitchell, Marie Claire, "What Your Zodiac Sign Says About How You Should Prep for The 2018 Midterms," 11 Oct. 2018 Former Stanford University swimmer Brock Turner, who served just three of his six-month sentence in jail for assaulting an unconscious woman in 2015, will not have his conviction overturned. — Abby Gardner, Glamour, "Brock Turner Loses Appeal To Overturn Sexual Assault Conviction," 10 Aug. 2018 That does not necessarily mean that Kavanaugh would help overturn Roe in the event that a case makes its way to the Supreme Court. — Brian Bennett, Time, "How Brett Kavanaugh Could Change the Supreme Court—and America," 12 July 2018 All lanes of Interstate 71 south near the Lytle Tunnel are closed and expected to stay so until approximately 3 p.m. Cincinnati Fire and EMS say a semi overturned on westbound Fort Washington Way just south of the tunnel. — Cincinnati.com, "Overturned semi leads to lengthy closure of Ft. Washington Way," 11 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

The first is the overturn-without-overturning approach. — Dylan Matthews, Vox, "Brett Kavanaugh likely gives the Supreme Court the votes to overturn Roe. Here’s how they’d do it.," 5 Oct. 2018 The first is the overturn-without-overturning approach. — Dylan Matthews, Vox, "Brett Kavanaugh likely gives the Supreme Court the votes to overturn Roe. Here’s how they’d do it.," 5 Oct. 2018 The first is the overturn-without-overturning approach. — Dylan Matthews, Vox, "Brett Kavanaugh likely gives the Supreme Court the votes to overturn Roe. Here’s how they’d do it.," 5 Oct. 2018 The first is the overturn-without-overturning approach. — Dylan Matthews, Vox, "Brett Kavanaugh likely gives the Supreme Court the votes to overturn Roe. Here’s how they’d do it.," 5 Oct. 2018 The first is the overturn-without-overturning approach. — Dylan Matthews, Vox, "Brett Kavanaugh likely gives the Supreme Court the votes to overturn Roe. Here’s how they’d do it.," 5 Oct. 2018 The first is the overturn-without-overturning approach. — Dylan Matthews, Vox, "Brett Kavanaugh likely gives the Supreme Court the votes to overturn Roe. Here’s how they’d do it.," 5 Oct. 2018 The first is the overturn-without-overturning approach. — Dylan Matthews, Vox, "Brett Kavanaugh likely gives the Supreme Court the votes to overturn Roe. Here’s how they’d do it.," 5 Oct. 2018 Sadly, outrage over these arrests has been largely overshadowed by the kingdom’s timely overturn of the ban — which came into effect just a month after the activists’ arrests. — Rauza Khan, Teen Vogue, "Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince and Princess Have Been Praised For Being “Progressive” While Our Friend Spent Her Birthday in Jail," 10 Sep. 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'overturn.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.