overturn

1 of 2

verb

over·​turn ˌō-vər-ˈtərn How to pronounce overturn (audio)
overturned; overturning; overturns

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 menOscar 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

2 of 2

noun

over·​turn ˈō-vər-ˌtərn How to pronounce overturn (audio)
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
Verb
According to the plea agreement, Brannon planned to attack a second Planned Parenthood clinic following the Supreme Court's decision in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization, which overturned Roe v. Wade, but didn't follow through. Meredith Deliso, ABC News, 30 Nov. 2023 The car overturned and threw the passengers from the vehicle, the statement said. Patrick Smith, NBC News, 24 Nov. 2023 By October, an appeals panel overturned Staunton’s decision. Eric Sondheimer, Los Angeles Times, 22 Nov. 2023 The truck overturned and crashed into a tree before coming to rest at the bottom of an embankment. Caleb Lunetta, San Diego Union-Tribune, 22 Nov. 2023 The new serotine bat findings overturn the idea that mammals need to have penetration to reproduce, opening the door to the possibility that other mammals engage in contact mating. Sarah Kuta, Smithsonian Magazine, 22 Nov. 2023 Officials said the box truck overturned on the HOV exit ramp over the southbound lanes of the Insterstate 45 North Freeway. Stepheny Price, Fox News, 22 Nov. 2023 Since 2018, their students have helped overturn the convictions of seven innocent people. Lizzie Hyman, Peoplemag, 22 Nov. 2023 Those three justices form the backbone of the new conservative majority and provided the decisive votes to overturn Roe v. Wade. The Editors, National Review, 21 Nov. 2023
Noun
When asked how the overturn of Roe V. Wade affects Black people specifically, Williams explains that the South is experiencing overwhelming restrictions. Essence, 30 Sep. 2023 Before the overturn of Roe, terminating pregnancies through this method accounted for around 5% of abortions (4,045 per month) but now has increased to 8% (6,950 per month). Breccan F. Thies, Washington Examiner, 24 Oct. 2023 The knowledge of the harm that is done by disregarding these urgent skills was known by a close friend of Reed who helped train them in preparation for the possible overturn of Roe V. Wade. Essence, 30 Sep. 2023 Abortions spiked in states neighboring or near those with restrictions after the overturn of Roe v. Wade, according to a new study. Breccan F. Thies, Washington Examiner, 7 Sep. 2023 Sportsbooks took nearly $5 billion in bets in 2018, the year the overturn of PASPA changed everything for all other states. Chris Bumbaca, The Courier-Journal, 5 Sep. 2023 Challenges have resulted in overturns only about 46 percent of the time, with umpires’ initial rulings upheld a majority of the time. Alex Speier, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Aug. 2023 Following the overturn of Roe v. Wade in 2022, the rights of pregnant people have been dramatically eroded. Clare Egan, Longreads, 10 Aug. 2023 In addition, our poll finds that Roe v. Wade’s overturn is an intensity issue. Chuck Todd, NBC News, 23 June 2023 See More

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'overturn.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

circa 1592, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of overturn was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near overturn

Cite this Entry

“Overturn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overturn. Accessed 5 Dec. 2023.

Kids Definition

overturn

verb
over·​turn
ˌō-vər-ˈtərn
1
: to turn over or upside down
waves overturned the boat
2
a
: invalidate, destroy
overturn the group's unity
b
: reverse entry 2 sense 2a
overturn the court's ruling
overturn
ˈō-vər-ˌtərn
noun

Legal Definition

overturn

transitive verb
over·​turn

More from Merriam-Webster on overturn

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!