upend

verb
up·​end | \ ˌəp-ˈend How to pronounce upend (audio) \
upended; upending; upends

Definition of upend

transitive verb

1 : to set or stand on end also : overturn sense 1
2a : to affect to the point of being upset or flurried a … literary shocker, designed to upend the credulous matrons— Wolcott Gibbs
b : defeat, beat

intransitive verb

: to rise on an end

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Examples of upend in a Sentence

He upended the bicycle to fix its flat tire. I upended the bucket to use as a stool. The security inspector upended my bag and dumped everything out. A giant wave upended the surfers. The midfielder was upended before he got the ball.
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Recent Examples on the Web

But the ridesharing and on-demand delivery companies say labeling workers as such would upend their business model built around driver flexibility. Washington Post, "Rideshare, delivery apps pledge $90M California ballot fight," 31 Aug. 2019 Streep's got the showiest role as a widow who helps upend the scheme after she's swindled out of millions. Isaac Feldberg, Fortune, "As Venice Jump-Starts Festival Season, ‘Joker’ and the ‘Laundromat’ Are Among the Week’s Buzziest Trailers," 28 Aug. 2019 Their findings confirm that fungi, bacteria and other microscopic players can fit anywhere in the food web, upending our vision of predator and prey, carnivore and herbivore—and what makes a bee a bee. Paige Embry, Scientific American, "Surprise: Bees Need Meat," 23 Aug. 2019 The Patriots set up a screen to Phillip Dorsett with room to run, and Jackson upended one of the fastest receivers in the NFL. • Boffo chance for rookie Brian Burns to get his hands on Brady early. Conor Orr, SI.com, "Cam Newton’s Foot Injury, a Shortened Field in Canada and More: NFL Preseason Week 3," 23 Aug. 2019 But Conte’s resignation effectively preempted the vote, upending the government anyway. Jen Kirby, Vox, "Italy’s prime minister just resigned. What the heck comes next?," 21 Aug. 2019 The seven justices on Tuesday expressed concern over whether a ballot question could leave taxpayers on the hook for millions of dollars in damages if the city’s contract with a consortium of private haulers is upended. Frederick Melo, Twin Cities, "State Supreme Court may rule this week on St. Paul’s trash ballot question," 20 Aug. 2019 The arrangement appeared to produce remarkable success: The New Canaan kitchens attracted national attention, upending the notion that school-cafeteria food was made only to be mocked. Sarah Schweitzer, The Atlantic, "The Lunch Ladies of New Canaan," 15 Aug. 2019 The sweeping probe involving an inmate who served as an undercover informant upended the insular department, sending several deputies to prison for beatings and cover-ups. Joel Rubin, latimes.com, "FBI investigating tattooed deputy gangs in Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department," 11 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'upend.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of upend

1823, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

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More Definitions for upend

upend

verb

English Language Learners Definition of upend

: to cause (something) to be upside down : to turn (something) over
: to cause (someone) to fall down or be turned over

upend

verb
up·​end | \ ˌəp-ˈend How to pronounce upend (audio) \
upended; upending

Kids Definition of upend

: to set, stand, or rise on end

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