upset

1 of 3

verb

up·​set (ˌ)əp-ˈset 

upset; upsetting

transitive verb

1

: to force out of the usual upright, level, or proper position : overturn

I accidentally bumped the table and upset a lamp.

2

a

: to trouble mentally or emotionally : disturb the poise of

the news upset me

b

: to throw into disorder

Their sudden arrival upset our plans.

c

: invalidate

d

: to defeat unexpectedly

was upset in the primary

3

: to cause a physical disorder in

specifically : to make somewhat ill

spicy food upsets my stomach

4

: to thicken and shorten (something, such as a heated bar of iron) by hammering on the end : swage

intransitive verb

: to become overturned

upsetter noun

upset

2 of 3

noun

up·​set ˈəp-ˌset 

1

: an act of overturning : overturn

the upset of the canoe

2

a(1)

: an act of throwing into disorder : disarrangement

<the complete upset of our plans

(2)

: a state of disorder : confusion

… produced less profound changes … but also much less upset and clash.

—A. L. Kroeber

b

: an unexpected defeat

The team suffered another upset.

3

a

: a minor physical disorder

a stomach upset

b

: an emotional disturbance

went through a big upset after his father's death

4

a

: a part of a rod (such as the head on a bolt) that is upset

b

: the expansion of a bullet on striking

upset

3 of 3

adjective

up·​set (ˌ)əp-ˈset 

1

: emotionally disturbed or agitated

especially : angry or unhappy

was too upset to speak to him

2

: affected with minor physical disturbance or disorder

an upset stomach

Phrases

upset the apple cart

: to disturb or overturn a natural or stable order

Synonyms of upset

Verb

• worry
• disturb
• bother
• concern
• alarm
• distract
• anger
• agitate
• unsettle
• annoy
• distress

Noun

• disruption
• disturbance

Adjective

• worried
• nervous
• anxious
• uneasy
• troubled

Choose the Right Synonym for upset

discompose, disquiet, disturb, perturb, agitate, upset, fluster mean to destroy capacity for collected thought or decisive action.

discompose implies some degree of loss of self-control or self-confidence especially through emotional stress.

discomposed by the loss of his beloved wife

disquiet suggests loss of sense of security or peace of mind.

the disquieting news of factories closing

disturb implies interference with one's mental processes caused by worry, perplexity, or interruption.

the discrepancy in accounts disturbed me

perturb implies deep disturbance of mind and emotions.

perturbed by her husband's strange behavior

agitate suggests obvious external signs of nervous or emotional excitement.

in his agitated state we could see he was unable to work

upset implies the disturbance of normal or habitual functioning by disappointment, distress, or grief.

the family's constant bickering upsets the youngest child

fluster suggests bewildered agitation.

his declaration of love completely flustered her

Examples of upset in a Sentence

Verb

That remark you made really upset me.

Don't upset yourself over it.

It upsets him that he can do nothing to help.

A lot of people were upset by the court's decision.

It upsets me to think I might never see him again.

Spicy food upsets my stomach.

Noun

In a major upset, he took the gold medal.

Her victory in the election was a big upset.

Spicy foods can cause stomach upset.

An emotional upset can affect your physical health.

a period of emotional upset

Adjective

I was feeling upset by the whole experience.

There's no point in getting all upset about it.

I try not to let her make me upset.

She was too upset to speak to him.

I'm upset that you didn't call.

I was so upset with him, I didn't call him for two weeks.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The election results on Tuesday are sure to be closely watched for signs of which party is better positioned for next year’s midterm elections, which could upset the balance of power on Capitol Hill. —Brian Bennett, Time, 4 Nov. 2025

In 2007, his Stanford team upset Pete Carroll’s undefeated USC as a 41-point underdog, ending the Trojans’ 35-game homefield winning streak in the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. —Tom Krasovic, San Diego Union-Tribune, 4 Nov. 2025

Noun

All six of those teams have either two or three total conference games left on their schedule, so the chances for those upsets to take place are minimal. —Jordan McPherson, Miami Herald, 2 Nov. 2025

There were plenty of upsets, from Houston falling to West Virginia to SMU potentially knocking Miami out of the playoffs one week after the Mustangs lost to Wake Forest. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 2 Nov. 2025

Adjective

Mamdani's win was seen as an upset to the establishment, since the 67-year-old Cuomo is the son of a three-time New York governor and held the position himself for a decade beginning in 2011. —Rachel Treisman, NPR, 5 Nov. 2025

Art Hains’ legs felt more tired than usual as he lugged radio gear back to the car after calling Missouri State’s near-upset at Arkansas early in the 2022 football season. —Blair Kerkhoff, Kansas City Star, 5 Nov. 2025

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1677, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 4

Noun

1804, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Adjective

1805, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing upset

• upset price

Rhymes for upset

• abet
• asset
• baguette
• banquette
• barbette
• beget
• beset
• brevet
• briquette
• brunet
• brunette
• burette

Kids Definition

upset

1 of 3 verb

up·​set (ˌ)əp-ˈset 

upset; upsetting

1

: to force or be forced out of the usual position : overturn

2

a

: to worry, anger, or cause unhappiness to

the news upset me

b

: to make somewhat ill

spicy food upsets my stomach

3

a

: to throw into disorder

b

: to defeat unexpectedly

upset

2 of 3 noun

up·​set ˈəp-ˌset 

1

: an act or result of upsetting : a state of being upset

2

a

: a minor illness

a stomach upset

b

: a period of worry or unhappiness

upset

3 of 3 adjective

up·​set (ˌ)əp-ˈset 

: emotionally disturbed or shaken up

was too upset to talk

Medical Definition

upset

1 of 3 transitive verb

up·​set (ˌ)əp-ˈset 

upset; upsetting

1

: to trouble mentally or emotionally

the news upset me

2

: to cause a physical disorder in

specifically : to make somewhat ill

greasy food upsets my stomach

upset

2 of 3 noun

up·​set ˈəp-ˌset 

1

: a minor physical disorder

a stomach upset

2

: an emotional disturbance

upset

3 of 3 adjective

up·​set (ˌ)əp-ˈset 

1

: affected with a minor physical disturbance

an upset stomach

2

: emotionally disturbed or agitated

was too upset to speak