upset

Word parts

up- + set

Pronunciation

noun

• enPR: ŭpʹsĕt, IPA ^(key): /ˈʌpsεt/
• SAMPA: /"VpsEt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

adjective, verb

• enPR: ŭpsĕtʹ, IPA ^(key): /ʌpˈsεt/
• SAMPA: /Vp"sEt/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Noun

Singular upset

Plural upsets

1. (uncountable) A disturbance or disruption.

   My late arrival caused the professor considerable upset.

2. (countable) (sports) An unexpected win.

   The Nimrods defeated the Blue Devils yesterday in a stunning upset.

Adjective

Positive upset

Comparative more upset

Superlative most upset

1. Very angry or very sad.

   He was upset after someone said bad things to him very loudly.

2. Something is upset if it is in turned in the wrong direction like something that was dropped; turned in a direction with the bottom part up and the top part down.

   When they played with a ball in the room, a cup was upset and all the milk went onto the floor.

Verb

Plain form upset

Third-person singular upsets

Past tense upset

Past participle upset

Present participle upsetting

1. If you upset someone, you make them angry, anxious, stressed, or unhappy.
2. If you upset something, you disturb it, disrupt it, or change it to make it worse.
3. If you upset something, you tip it or turn it upside down.