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
Idaho Statesman, 7 May 2026
Late last year, the administration issued stop-work orders for all major offshore wind projects under construction, a move that was later overturned by the courts.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
The suit seeks court damages and the overturn of the commission’s ruling.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 19 Apr. 2026
See All Example Sentences for overturn
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Verb
Lawmakers in the past have taken actions against cities, such as preventing them from setting their own minimum wage and overturning some Boise rental protections.
—Idaho Statesman, 7 May 2026
Late last year, the administration issued stop-work orders for all major offshore wind projects under construction, a move that was later overturned by the courts.
—Ella Nilsen, CNN Money, 7 May 2026
Noun
Their 43% overturn rate is the eighth-worst mark in the league, and that includes starting the season 11-for-13.
—Ryan Morik, FOXNews.com, 25 Apr. 2026
The suit seeks court damages and the overturn of the commission’s ruling.
—Don Stacom, Hartford Courant, 19 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 9 May. 2026.
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