- to turn or set or become turned or set on end
- (transitive) to affect or upset drastically
WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2026
up•end /ʌpˈɛnd/USA pronunciation
v. [~ + object]
WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2026- to set or put (something) on end:The car was upended in a ditch.
- to defeat in a competition:upended their opponents.
up•end
(up end′),USA pronunciation v.t.
v.i.
- to set on end, as a barrel or ship.
- to affect drastically or radically, as tastes, opinions, reputations, or systems.
- to defeat in competition, as in boxing or business.
v.i.
- to become upended.
- to place the body back-end up, as a dabbling duck.
- up- + end1 1815–25
Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::
upend /ʌpˈɛnd/ vb
'upended' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):