upend

verb

up·​end ˌəp-ˈend 

upended; upending; upends

transitive verb

1

: to set or stand on end

also : overturn sense 1

2

a

: to affect to the point of being upset or flurried

a … literary shocker, designed to upend the credulous matrons

—Wolcott Gibbs

b

: defeat, beat

intransitive verb

: to rise on an end

Synonyms

• beat
• best
• conquer
• defeat
• dispatch
• do down [British]
• get
• get around
• lick
• master
• overbear
• overcome
• overmatch
• prevail (over)
• skunk
• stop
• subdue
• surmount
• take
• trim
• triumph (over)
• win (against)
• worst

Examples of upend in a Sentence

He upended the bicycle to fix its flat tire.

I upended the bucket to use as a stool.

The security inspector upended my bag and dumped everything out.

A giant wave upended the surfers.

The midfielder was upended before he got the ball.

Recent Examples on the Web

Trump's tariffs on China and others have upended the global trading system and threaten to slow the world economy, and perhaps even pull the U.S. into recession. —Thomas G. Moukawsher, MSNBC Newsweek, 25 Apr. 2025

In recent decades, manufacturing opportunities have left Baltimore in droves, putting a dent on the local economy and upending the livelihoods of so many families who relied on our industries for their prosperity. —Andy Harris, Baltimore Sun, 24 Apr. 2025

Because one teeny tiny missed word could upend your entire race. —Nick Caruso, TVLine, 23 Apr. 2025

Humanity’s rapid, unprecedented changes to ecosystems around the world are upending millions of years of evolution for countless species. —Andrew Paul, Popular Science, 23 Apr. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Rhymes for upend

• amend
• append
• ascend
• attend
• backend
• befriend
• boyfriend
• commend
• compend
• contend
• defend
• depend

Kids Definition

upend

verb

up·​end ˌə-ˈpend 

: to set, stand, or rise on end