upside down

adverb

up·​side down ˈəp-ˌsīd-ˈdau̇n How to pronounce upside down (audio)
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 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
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.
Lala was last seen dangling upside down in the driver’s seat, bleeding profusely. Matt Webb Mitovich, TVLine, 8 Oct. 2025 Photographs from the scene showed a red helicopter upside down in the middle of the highway strewn with wreckage as first responders treated the injured. Robert Birsel, MSNBC Newsweek, 7 Oct. 2025 Re-created in neon, Baldwin’s words sit atop Twain’s, which are flipped upside down like a mirror image. Julie Belcove, Robb Report, 5 Oct. 2025 Dufrene—who runs a popular airboat swamp tours in Louisiana—donned a more casual getup, including a navy shirt jacket and pants, baseball cap, and gas station sunglasses worn upside down. Christian Allaire, Vogue, 5 Oct. 2025 See All Example Sentences for upside down

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

Time Traveler
The first known use of upside down was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Upside down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upside%20down. Accessed 9 Oct. 2025.

Kids Definition

upside down

adverb
up·​side down ˌəp-ˌsīd-ˈdau̇n How to pronounce upside down (audio)
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

More from Merriam-Webster on upside down

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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