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

There are dangers that the entire global supply chain could be upended, raising costs for businesses and their customers. —Vanessa Yurkevich, CNN Money, 6 Mar. 2026

The court ruled that a statewide referendum can be held April 21 on whether to authorize mid-decade redistricting, upending a temporary restraining order put in place by a Tazewell County judge last month. —Arkansas Online, 5 Mar. 2026

The striking announcement threatens to upend Missouri’s election season as a roster of Republicans have already launched campaigns based on the map’s boundaries. —Kacen Bayless, Kansas City Star, 5 Mar. 2026

After humanity’s extinction, a strange woman (Hilary Swank) upends the life of a teenager raised in an austere postapocalyptic bunker under the care of a maternal robot voiced by Rose Byrne. —Ilana Gordon, Entertainment Weekly, 5 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