upend

verb

up·​end ˌəp-ˈend How to pronounce upend (audio)
upended; upending; upends
Synonyms of upendnext

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

intransitive verb

: to rise on an end

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
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
The injury upends Jones’ quest for an MVP and a Comeback Player of the Year award. Ryan Gaydos, FOXNews.com, 7 Dec. 2025 Other Supreme Court rulings involving the Voting Rights Act could upend other states’ maps. David Lightman, Sacbee.com, 5 Dec. 2025 Netflix is used to upending the legacy media industry. Lillian Rizzo, CNBC, 5 Dec. 2025 The modern federal income tax was created with the ratification of the 16th Amendment in 1913 but experts have cast doubt on it being upended any time soon. Brendan Cole, MSNBC Newsweek, 4 Dec. 2025 See All Example Sentences for upend

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of upend was in 1823

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Cite this Entry

“Upend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upend. Accessed 15 Dec. 2025.

Kids Definition

upend

verb
up·​end ˌə-ˈpend How to pronounce upend (audio)
: to set, stand, or rise on end

More from Merriam-Webster on upend

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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