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

Georg Baselitz, an acclaimed German artist prominent in the Neo-Expressionalist movement who had a penchant for provocation and was known for painting images upside down, has died. —ABC News, 1 May 2026

This dynamic has turned the economics of AI upside down. —Rogé Karma, The Atlantic, 1 May 2026

Our world is upside down right now. —Julia Bonavita, FOXNews.com, 1 May 2026

Flip wheelbarrows upside down, drill drainage holes in planters and tuck buckets and tools under cover. —Ryan Brennan april 30, Miami Herald, 30 Apr. 2026

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