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

In Oregon, the reverse could pan out, with a Republican in contention to upend a Democrat’s hold on the office for the first time since 1982. — Chantelle Lee, Time, 21 Oct. 2026

Menopause, empty nests and romantic misadventures upend the lives of four women, who have had enough of being reasonable. — Leo Barraclough, Variety, 20 Oct. 2026

His comments came as the MIA Market in Rome kicked off with a panel on European producers collaborating in an EU-wide audiovisual policy amid a global business upended by consolidation and acquisitions of European companies by American rivals. — Etan Vlessing, HollywoodReporter, 19 Oct. 2026

That will upend the lives of locals like 27-year-old Sánchez and her two young daughters, whose rural town of Limón de Chagres is one of dozens of communities along the Indio River that will be affected. — Hira Humayun, CNN Money, 18 Oct. 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