overturn

USoh-ver-TURN/ˌoʊvɚˈtɝn/UKoh-vuh-TURN/ˌəʊvəˈtɜːn/

As a nounOH-vur-turn

7 meanings of overturn

1
verbtransitive or intransitive
To tip something over so it falls onto its side or lands upside down.
Like flipping a cup upside down so everything inside falls out.
A big wave can overturn a small boat in seconds.
The cat overturned the vase, and water spilled everywhere.
Similarcapsize, flip, upset, topple, tip
Oppositeright
Note
2
verbtransitive
To officially change or cancel an earlier decision so it no longer counts.
Like a teacher canceling a grade after finding a mistake in the marking.
A higher court can overturn a ruling it finds unfair.
Lawmakers voted to overturn the old ban.
Similarreverse, quash, overrule, rescind, annul
Oppositeuphold, affirm, confirm
Note
3
verbtransitive
To bring down a government or system and put an end to it.
Like knocking down a tall tower so it can never stand again.
The rebels wanted to overturn the king's rule.
A sudden uprising overturned the old government.
Similaroverthrow, topple, subvert
4
nouncountable
The act of turning something over so it ends up upside down.
Like a turtle flipped onto its back, legs pointing up.
The overturn of the canoe threw everyone into the cold water.
A sudden overturn sent the chess pieces flying off the board.
Similarinversion, capsizing
5
nouncountable
The downfall or complete destruction of a system, group, or way of life.
Like a sandcastle washed flat by a single big wave.
The overturn of the empire changed history forever.
Many people feared the overturn of their whole way of life.
Similaroverthrow, downfall, fall, collapse, ruin
Oppositerestoration
6
verbtransitive
To make up for an earlier loss by winning later.
Like winning a rematch so people forget you lost the first time.
The team hopes to overturn last year's defeat in the rematch.
She overturned her earlier loss with a clear victory in the final.
Similarreverse, avenge
Note
7
verbintransitive
Of a lake, to suddenly let go of gas that has built up deep underwater.
Like a soda bottle that fizzes over all at once when it's shaken and opened.
Some deep lakes can overturn without warning, releasing deadly gas.
The lake overturned one night, and the rising gas reached the village below.

Practice

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Origin

From Middle English overturnen, made from over- plus turn.