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.
Minutes later, the brown water had completely covered the park, flipping RVs upside down, smashing them against trees and stacking them in a corner of the park. Rick Jervis, USA Today, 8 July 2025 Everything in the sky felt upside down and opposite, compared with what I was used to. Abigail Bishop, The Conversation, 7 July 2025 Even though upside down, impossible not to see it while solving. Ticked Off, The Orlando Sentinel, 7 July 2025 In the announcement, there are 13 balloons, 13 pennants on the banner and 13 presents (12 on the ground and one upside down). Bryan West, The Tennessean, 2 July 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 17 Jul. 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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