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

Rebuilding a decimated childhood The disaster has upended the daily lives of thousands of children. — Osmary Hernández, CNN Money, 11 July 2026

But the resumption in hostilities between Washington and Tehran could upend that outlook if pricing pressures prove to be more durable. — Sarah Min, CNBC, 10 July 2026

Today, SpaceX’s Starship rocket is again promising to upend the launch industry and, by extension, the futures of those who build and own satellites. — Stephen Clark, ArsTechnica, 9 July 2026

Lucien Laviscount enters the scene and steams it up as Hot Guy who fandangoes with Laila and then upends the apple cart later on. — Randy Myers, Mercury News, 9 July 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