upside down

adverb

up·​side down ˈəp-ˌsīd-ˈdau̇n 

1

: in such a way that the upper and the lower parts are reversed in position

2

: in or into great disorder

turned their world upside down

upside-down

ˈəp-ˌsīd-ˈdau̇n 

adjective

Examples of upside down in a Sentence

You hung the picture upside down!

To remove the plant, turn the pot upside down and tap gently on the bottom to loosen it.

The baby was holding the book upside down.

Recent Examples on the Web

My life is completely flipped upside down. —Daysia Tolentino, Entertainment Weekly, 31 Dec. 2025

In the show, the upside down is a mirror image to the physical world, existing in a dimension below the Earth. —Katia Riddle, NPR, 31 Dec. 2025

This time, the two friends must discover a reptilian mystery that threatens to turn the animal haven of Zootopia upside down. —Jordan Moreau, Variety, 31 Dec. 2025

Bake the pan upside down in a hot oven for one hour, catching any drips with a sheet of aluminum foil. —Karen Brewer Grossman, Southern Living, 30 Dec. 2025

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English up so doun, from up + so + doun down

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Rhymes for upside down

• adown
• blowdown
• breakdown
• countdown
• crackdown
• crosstown
• downtown
• drawdown
• dropdown
• facedown
• godown
• hometown

Kids Definition

upside down

adverb

up·​side down ˌəp-ˌsīd-ˈdau̇n 

1

: with the upper part underneath and the lower part on top

2

: in or into great disorder

upside-down adjective

Legal Definition

upside down

adjective

: underwater

upside down mortgages

upside down homes

upside down homeowners