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

Later bookings, more domestic travel The Iran war has sent jet fuel prices soaring, upending the global aviation industry and forcing airlines to raise fares, curb growth plans and rethink forecasts. —Shashwat Awasthi, USA Today, 16 Apr. 2026

Hanks plays the pitching coach of a major league hurler whose life is upended when he is hit in the head by a line drive on the mound. —Mike Fleming Jr, Deadline, 16 Apr. 2026

Hong Kong / Beijing — Strong exports of electrical and mechanical products supercharged China’s economy in the first three months of the year, with growth exceeding analysts’ expectations even as the Iran war upended global trade and energy markets. —John Liu, CNN Money, 16 Apr. 2026

Vera is a fun-loving 23-year-old until her entire life is upended after an accident leaves her in a wheelchair. —Ryan Lattanzio, IndieWire, 16 Apr. 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