upend

verb

up·​end ˌəp-ˈend 

upended; upending; upends

transitive verb

1

: to set or stand on end

also : overturn sense 1

upended the bucket to use as a stool

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 of upend

• defeat
• overcome
• master
• take
• beat
• worst
• conquer
• get
• best
• stop

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

But Iran’s attacks on ships using the strait that are not its own have stopped that supply of oil, even fertilizer, upending those and other markets around the world. —Naomi Lim, The Washington Examiner, 19 Mar. 2026

In the filing, O’Connell accused Garza of secretly negotiating with city officials and withholding information that could help clear a police officer set to stand trial this summer — a claim that, if true, could represent a serious breach of prosecutorial ethics and potentially upend the case. —Tony Plohetski, Austin American Statesman, 19 Mar. 2026

The surge in crude prices unleashed by the Middle East conflict upends that and piles further pressure on the public finances. —Ian King, CNBC, 18 Mar. 2026

Tens of thousands of travelers have had trips upended this week as storms caused Delta and other airlines to cancel hundreds of flights. —Kelly Yamanouchi, AJC.com, 18 Mar. 2026

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