UK:**UK and possibly other pronunciationsUK and possibly other pronunciations/ʌpˈsɛtɪŋ/US:USA pronunciation: respellingUSA pronunciation: respelling(up set′ing)
up•set(v., adj. up set′;n. up′set′),USA pronunciationv.,-set, -set•ting,n., adj. v.t.
to overturn:to upset a pitcher of milk.
to disturb mentally or emotionally; perturb:The incident upset her.
to disturb or derange completely; put out of order; throw into disorder:to upset a system;to upset a mechanism;to upset an apartment.
Pathologyto disturb physically:It upset his stomach.
to defeat or overthrow an opponent that is considered more formidable, as in war, politics, or sports.
Metallurgyto thicken the end of (a piece of heated metal) by hammering on the end against the length of the piece.
v.i.
to become upset or overturned.
n.
an upsetting or instance of being upset; overturn; overthrow.
the defeat of a person, team, etc., that is considered more formidable.
a nervous, irritable state of mind.
a disordered or confused arrangement.
Metallurgy
a tool used for upsetting.
something that is upset, as a bar end.
adj.
overturned:an upset milk pail.
disordered; disorganized:The house is upset.
distressed; disturbed:She had an upset stomach. He is emotionally upset.
[Archaic.]raised up.
1300–50; Middle English: raised up; see up-, set
up•set′ta•ble, adj. up•set′ter, n. up•set′ting•ly, adv.
1.Upset,capsize,overturn imply a change from an upright or other stable position to a prostrate one. Upset is a familiar word, applied to simple, everyday actions:to upset a table, a glass of water.Capsize is applied especially to the upsetting of a boat or other vessel:to capsize a canoe.Overturn usually suggests violence in upsetting something supposedly stable:The earthquake overturned houses.All three are used figuratively, also:to upset the stock market; to capsize a plan; to overturn a government.2. unnerve, disconcert, fluster. 5. depose, displace. 10. perturbation, disturbance. 11. mess. 15. disconcerted, agitated, perturbed, annoyed.
(also intr) to tip or be tipped over; overturn, capsize, or spill
to disturb the normal state, course, or stability of: to upset the balance of nature
to disturb mentally or emotionally
to defeat or overthrow, usually unexpectedly
to make physically ill: seafood always upsets my stomach
to thicken or spread (the end of a bar, rivet, etc) by forging, hammering, or swagging
n/ˈʌpˌsɛt/
an unexpected defeat or reversal, as in a contest or plans
a disturbance or disorder of the emotions, body, etc
adj/ʌpˈsɛt/
overturned or capsized
emotionally or physically disturbed or distressed
disordered; confused
defeated or overthrown
Etymology: 14th Century (in the sense: to set up, erect; C19 in the sense: to overthrow); related to Middle High German ūfsetzen to put on, Middle Dutch opzettenupˈsetternupˈsettingadjupˈsettinglyadv
'upsetting' also found in these entries (note: many are not synonyms or translations):