upheaval
noun
up·heav·al
ˌəp-ˈhē-vəl 
(ˌ)ə-ˈpē-
1
: the action or an instance of upheaving especially of part of the earth's crust
2
: extreme agitation or disorder : radical change
a period of social upheaval
also
: an instance of this
one of human history's greatest upheavals
Examples of upheaval in a Sentence
The civil rights movement marked a period of social upheaval in the U.S.
the emotional upheaval of divorce
a period of cultural and social upheavals
The island was created by an upheaval of the ocean floor.
The lake was formed by geologic upheaval.
Recent Examples on the Web
Kyiv is paying the price of the upheaval with constant churn and relentless loss, Ukrainians told me.
—
Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
This market town on England’s south coast is not usually associated with political upheaval, having voted for the traditional establishment Conservative Party at every election since 1885.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 24 Feb. 2026
The effects are still rippling through American institutions, and the long-term consequences of this upheaval remain to be seen.
—Veronique Greenwood, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
And amid the upheaval of the roster at the trade deadline, the Bulls have completely lost their ability to beat teams out of the break, resulting in a recurring — and deflating — pattern of competing decently in the first half, then falling apart after halftime.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
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Nick Paton Walsh, CNN Money, 24 Feb. 2026
This market town on England’s south coast is not usually associated with political upheaval, having voted for the traditional establishment Conservative Party at every election since 1885.
—Alexander Smith, NBC news, 24 Feb. 2026
The effects are still rippling through American institutions, and the long-term consequences of this upheaval remain to be seen.
—Veronique Greenwood, Time, 24 Feb. 2026
And amid the upheaval of the roster at the trade deadline, the Bulls have completely lost their ability to beat teams out of the break, resulting in a recurring — and deflating — pattern of competing decently in the first half, then falling apart after halftime.
—Julia Poe, Chicago Tribune, 23 Feb. 2026
See All Example Sentences for upheaval
Cite this Entry
“Upheaval.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upheaval. Accessed 26 Feb. 2026.
Copy CitationKids Definition
upheaval
noun
up·heav·al
ˌəp-ˈhē-vəl
(ˌ)ə-ˈpē-
1
: the action or an instance of heaving or lifting up from beneath especially of part of the earth's crust
2
: an instance of violent disorder or change
emotional upheaval
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