overturn

verb over·turn \ ˌō-vər-ˈtərn \

|Updated on: 16 Jun 2018

Examples: overturn in a Sentence

Definition of overturn

transitive verb

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

b : reverse 2a

overturn a court ruling

intransitive verb

: upset, turn over

The car went off the road and overturned several times.

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Examples of overturn in a Sentence

The dog overturned the bowl.
The truck went off the road and overturned several times.
The court overturned his conviction.

Recent Examples of overturn from the Web

Especially since the Champ's conviction for refusing induction into the Army was overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court in 1971.

— joseph gerth, The Courier-Journal, "What is Trump thinking? Muhammad Ali doesn't need a stinkin' pardon," 8 June 2018
But the conviction Ali would be pardoned for — evading the draft during the Vietnam War — was already overturned by the U.S. Supreme Court.

— gregory korte, USA TODAY, "Trump says he may pardon Muhammad Ali — the late boxing champion who doesn't need one," 8 June 2018
But the judge appeared to give short shrift to the claim that the ex-cop Terrance O’Brien’s conviction should be overturned.

— robert mccoppin, chicagotribune.com, "Questions raised in DuPage court about ex-Schaumburg cop's sentencing for role in drug ring," 7 June 2018
Less than two months after Lamonte McIntyre’s conviction was overturned, a federal judge ordered the release of Gregory Orozco, who had been incarcerated on drug charges.

— michael harriot, The Root, "‘Evilest White Woman on Earth’: The Criminal Injustice of Terra Morehead," 6 June 2018
This breaking news story was published in the Evening Tribune before Kennedy died of his injuries at 1:44 a.m. Sirhan, now 74, is serving a life sentence at Donovan state prison; an earlier death sentence was overturned.

— sandiegouniontribune.com, "June 5, 1968: Robert Kennedy shot in Los Angeles," 5 June 2018
And, if Roe were overturned, what would that actually look like?

— ed kilgore, Daily Intelligencer, "What Would a Post–Roe v. Wade America Look Like?," 3 June 2018
Police arrested suspects, who were tried and convicted, but verdicts were overturned and the case seemed to bog down in doubt and recrimination.

— azcentral, "Don Bolles murder reverberates 42 years later in a changed world," 1 June 2018
Cleveland Cavaliers head coach Tyronn Lue ripped the officiating after a block-charge call was overturned in his team’s Game 1 overtime loss to the Golden State Warriors in the NBA Finals on Thursday night.

— ryan gaydos, Fox News, "Foul on LeBron James prompts Cavs coach to rip NBA Finals refs," 1 June 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.

First Known Use of overturn

13th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

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overturn Synonyms

Phrases

turn turtle;

overturn

noun over·turn \ ˈō-vər-ˌtərn \

Definition of overturn

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