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

However, Wright also offered a note of caution about presidential spouses who upend traditional approaches as first lady. —Mabinty Quarshie, The Washington Examiner, 16 Nov. 2025

But even with partial pay hitting bank accounts, the staffing crisis that regularly upends travel is set to continue. —Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 15 Nov. 2025

To that end, Zosia honors Carol’s request to be left alone but leaves her with the mail that had been in transit for her before — waves hands around — all of this world-upending craziness happened. —Scott Tobias, Vulture, 14 Nov. 2025

Just weeks before the holidays, major tech companies like Amazon, Meta, and Synopsys announced thousands of layoffs, upending plans and financial security. —Essence, 14 Nov. 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