upend

verb

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

transitive verb

1
: to set or stand on end
2
a
: to affect to the point of being upset or flurried
a … literary shocker, designed to upend the credulous matronsWolcott Gibbs
b

intransitive verb

: to rise on an end

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.
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.
There’s nothing wrong with abandoning atheism per se, but upending worldviews should always be handled with care, caution, and available support. Oshan Jarow, Vox, 4 Nov. 2024 The lawsuit could upend the process of awarding Virginia's 12 electoral votes to Harris. Erin Mansfield, USA TODAY, 2 Nov. 2024 Its lyrics dabble in and dart out of classic rap tropes; braggadocio has its situational benefits, but so does investigating and upending the inequities and insecurities that draw the behavior out. Craig Jenkins, Vulture, 30 Oct. 2024 For months, the movement had been accelerating and expanding, damaging homes, cracking roadways and upending life across the Portuguese Bend area. Grace Toohey, Los Angeles Times, 25 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for upend 

Word History

First Known Use

1823, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of upend was in 1823

Dictionary Entries Near upend

Cite this Entry

“Upend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upend. Accessed 26 Nov. 2024.

Kids Definition

upend

verb
up·​end ˌə-ˈpend How to pronounce upend (audio)
: to set, stand, or rise on end

More from Merriam-Webster on upend

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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