topsy-turvy

1 of 3

adverb

top·​sy-tur·​vy ˌtäp-sē-ˈtər-vē 

1

: in utter confusion or disorder

2

: with the top or head downward : upside down

topsy-turvy

2 of 3

adjective

: turned topsy-turvy : totally disordered

topsy-turvily

ˌtäp-sē-ˈtər-və-lē 

adverb

topsy-turvydom

ˌtäp-sē-ˈtər-vē-dəm 

noun

topsy-turvy

3 of 3

noun

: topsy-turviness

Synonyms

Adjective

• chaotic
• cluttered
• confused
• disarranged
• disarrayed
• disheveled
• dishevelled
• disordered
• disorderly
• higgledy-piggledy
• hugger-mugger
• jumbled
• littered
• messed
• messy
• muddled
• mussed
• mussy
• pell-mell
• rumpled
• sloppy
• tousled
• tumbled
• unkempt
• untidy
• upside-down

Examples of topsy-turvy in a Sentence

Adjective

the office is still topsy-turvy even though we moved in months ago

Recent Examples on the Web

Adverb

Lindsey, 75, had thoughts about the topsy-turvy clip. —Marina Watts, People.com, 14 May 2025

While it’s been a topsy-turvy season for the South London club, starting poorly and gradually building some form, Wharton—injured during the middle section of the campaign—has long shown ability. —Henry Flynn, Forbes.com, 27 Apr. 2025

Noun

Within that film’s topsy-turvy multiverse, Quan was by turns a laundromat owner on the verge of divorcing his wife, a dashing romantic lead and an action hero. —Mark Olsen, Los Angeles Times, 12 Mar. 2023

Pinsker’s characters always make the best of tricky situations, which only makes their struggles in her topsy-turvy worlds more heartbreaking. —Charlie Jane Anders, Washington Post, 7 Mar. 2023

Word History

Etymology

Adverb

probably ultimately from tops (plural of top entry 1) + obsolete English terve to turn upside down

First Known Use

Adverb

1528, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1612, in the meaning defined above

Noun

1655, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for topsy-turvy

• curvy
• nervy
• scurvy

Kids Definition

topsy-turvy

adverb

top·​sy-tur·​vy

ˌtäp-sē-ˈtər-vē

: upside down

topsy-turvy adjective