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

Here is what the actress has shared about the diagnosis that upended her year. — Samantha Agate, Miami Herald, 14 Oct. 2026

Saudi Ministry of Media | Reuters Deadly attacks on Saudi Arabia's second-busiest airport over the past week are highlighting how conflicts in the Middle East are upending air travel on a larger scale. — Leslie Josephs, CNBC, 13 Oct. 2026

The climate phenomenon, which originates in the Pacific and leads to warmer global temperatures, has upended weather across the world, fueling extraordinary storms in the Americas. — Jeronimo Gonzalez, semafor.com, 13 Oct. 2026

Their stories reveal how a diagnosis at a young age can upend expectations, reshape family life and force women to find strength in the uncertainty. — Roni Robbins, AJC.com, 12 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