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
Bloomberg, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Weinstein’s earlier rape conviction in New York was overturned by the state’s highest court on the grounds that prosecutors were allowed to introduce prejudicial testimony from women who claimed they were assaulted, but whose allegations were not charged.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2026
Suarez wound up retiring nine straight batters after that replay overturn, and 22 of the next 23 between the first and eighth innings.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overturn
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Verb
Yet sentiments like Brock’s are being repeated across California and the US, where hostility to battery farms has scuttled projects as residents and local officials sue to overturn government approvals or enact ordinances to ban the facilities or restrict where they can be built.
—Bloomberg, Oc Register, 23 Apr. 2026
Weinstein’s earlier rape conviction in New York was overturned by the state’s highest court on the grounds that prosecutors were allowed to introduce prejudicial testimony from women who claimed they were assaulted, but whose allegations were not charged.
—Gene Maddaus, Variety, 23 Apr. 2026
Noun
The suit seeks court damages and the overturn of the commission’s ruling.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2026
Suarez wound up retiring nine straight batters after that replay overturn, and 22 of the next 23 between the first and eighth innings.
—Mac Cerullo, Boston Herald, 18 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overturn
Cite this Entry
“Overturn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overturn. Accessed 26 Apr. 2026.
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