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
Synonyms
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 WebJennifer Peltz, arkansasonline.com, 16 Apr. 2024
The outcome of the legal fight is being closely watched because of the possible ramifications for the charges against Trump, which stem from what Smith alleges was a multi-pronged scheme to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2024
Biden and others said Trump is trying to make people forget his central role in overturning Roe.
—David Jackson, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
State and federal courts have dismissed more than 50 lawsuits across six states from Trump and his allies aiming to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
—Soo Rin Kim, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2024
The results of a Charlotte-area state Senate race remain in question after state officials voted Thursday to overturn a ruling by the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 11 Apr. 2024
The Humvee then traveled off the right side of the highway and overturned into a nearby tree line.
—The Enquirer, 11 Apr. 2024
The lawsuit to overturn California’s sanctuary law had, at its core, nothing to do with protecting children.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Trump campaigned in 2016 with the promise to overturn Roe v. Wade and, once elected, nominated three conservative justices to the U.S. Supreme Court.
—Jessica Van Egeren, Journal Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2024
Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2024
Health privacy laws could also be in play, and, as Boyle points out, states including Illinois and Washington have expanded their health-privacy laws in response to the overturn of Roe v. Wade.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024
This group feels the overturn of Roe v. Wade was a good thing for the country.
—Jennifer De Pinto, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2024
In 2022, the company closed its second fund, bringing total assets under management to $43.5 million, with a significant portion raised post the overturn of Roe v. Wade.
—Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
The Dodge then struck the right side of the Jeep, causing the sport utility vehicle to veer off the road and overturn, according to reports.
—Martin E. Comas, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2024
The decision came in what is believed to be the first such case since the Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade.
—Abigail Wilpers, STAT, 13 Dec. 2023
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
Verb
After a norm-shattering presidency shadowed by years of investigations, the trial amounts to a reckoning for Trump, who faces four indictments charging him with crimes ranging from hoarding classified documents to plotting to overturn an election.
—Jennifer Peltz, arkansasonline.com, 16 Apr. 2024
The outcome of the legal fight is being closely watched because of the possible ramifications for the charges against Trump, which stem from what Smith alleges was a multi-pronged scheme to overturn the outcome of the 2020 presidential election.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 15 Apr. 2024
Biden and others said Trump is trying to make people forget his central role in overturning Roe.
—David Jackson, USA TODAY, 13 Apr. 2024
State and federal courts have dismissed more than 50 lawsuits across six states from Trump and his allies aiming to overturn the results of the 2020 election.
—Soo Rin Kim, ABC News, 12 Apr. 2024
The results of a Charlotte-area state Senate race remain in question after state officials voted Thursday to overturn a ruling by the Mecklenburg County Board of Elections.
—Mary Ramsey, Charlotte Observer, 11 Apr. 2024
The Humvee then traveled off the right side of the highway and overturned into a nearby tree line.
—The Enquirer, 11 Apr. 2024
The lawsuit to overturn California’s sanctuary law had, at its core, nothing to do with protecting children.
—Michael Hiltzik, Los Angeles Times, 11 Apr. 2024
Trump campaigned in 2016 with the promise to overturn Roe v. Wade and, once elected, nominated three conservative justices to the U.S. Supreme Court.
—Jessica Van Egeren, Journal Sentinel, 16 Apr. 2024
Noun
Illinois, Florida, California saw largest increase in abortions in first 15 months after overturn of Roe v. Wade
The data estimates that states bordering bans had an uptick in abortions due to women traveling across state lines to access care.
—Nadine El-Bawab, ABC News, 1 Apr. 2024
Health privacy laws could also be in play, and, as Boyle points out, states including Illinois and Washington have expanded their health-privacy laws in response to the overturn of Roe v. Wade.
—Chloe Berger, Fortune, 15 Mar. 2024
This group feels the overturn of Roe v. Wade was a good thing for the country.
—Jennifer De Pinto, CBS News, 5 Mar. 2024
In 2022, the company closed its second fund, bringing total assets under management to $43.5 million, with a significant portion raised post the overturn of Roe v. Wade.
—Cheryl Robinson, Forbes, 16 Feb. 2024
The Dodge then struck the right side of the Jeep, causing the sport utility vehicle to veer off the road and overturn, according to reports.
—Martin E. Comas, Orlando Sentinel, 1 Jan. 2024
The decision came in what is believed to be the first such case since the Supreme Court’s overturn of Roe v. Wade.
—Abigail Wilpers, STAT, 13 Dec. 2023
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
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.
Dictionary Entries Near overturn
Cite this Entry
“Overturn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/overturn. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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