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

At its center is Latif (Mahershala Ali), a devout Muslim and professional assassin whose world is upended by his wife’s death and the demands of caring for their three children, in particular the search for breast milk to feed his newborn daughter. — Scott Roxborough, HollywoodReporter, 10 Nov. 2026

Working with creator and fellow executive producer Elizabeth Meriweather, Rossum upends archetypes about how serial killers behave in thrillers, the role of women as victims in crime dramas and the essential nature of justice. — Caitlin White, Variety, 10 Nov. 2026

Other wineries in the region have also had to drastically restructure or upend their operations. — Los Angeles Times, 10 Nov. 2026

These markets have upended decades of legal precedent giving states the authority to ban, regulate, license or tax casinos, sports books and other gaming. — The Editorial Board, Chicago Tribune, 9 Nov. 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