upset
Noun pluralupsets
Pluralupsets
- 1Feeling angry, sad, or worried about something.
Like a sunny mood turning gray after some bad news.
She was really upset after losing her keys.
The kids got upset when the trip was canceled.
UsageSay upset about something and upset with a person.
Similardistressed, unhappy, hurt, troubled, disturbed
- 2
- 3UP-set/ˈʌpsɛt/A surprise win by a person or team that was not expected to win.
Like a small school team beating the national champions.
The small school's victory was the biggest upset of the season.
Fans still talk about that upset years later.
UsagePeople pull off an upset, and one can be the biggest upset of the year.
Note
- 4
- 5To beat a person or team that was expected to win.
A determined underdog can upset a much stronger team.
The newcomer upset last year's winner in the first round.
- 6UP-set/ˈʌpsɛt/A sick or uncomfortable feeling in the stomach.
Too much rich food gave her a stomach upset.
He stayed home with a stomach upset all weekend.
UsageUsually a stomach upset, which means the same as an upset stomach.
Similarindigestion, queasiness
- 7
Less common meanings
- 8Of the stomach: feeling sick or uncomfortable, sometimes as if you might vomit.
Like a stomach doing flips on a bumpy car ride.
My stomach felt upset after the greasy meal.
She skipped dinner because her stomach was upset after the long drive.
UsageUsed with stomach: an upset stomach.
Similarunsettled, queasy, sick, nauseous
Oppositesettled
- 9To make something fall over by knocking or tipping it.
Like bumping a table and knocking over a glass.
Don't upset the bucket of water.
The cat upset a vase on the shelf.
UsagePeople more often say knock over or tip over.
Note
- 10UP-set/ˈʌpsɛt/A disturbance that keeps things from being calm or normal.
Cutting down the trees caused an upset in the balance of the forest.
Moving house caused a lot of upset to our daily routine.
UsageOften cause upset to something.
Similardisruption, disturbance, turmoil, upheaval
- 11UP-set/ˈʌpsɛt/An accident where a vehicle tips over onto its side or roof.
Like a toy car flipping over when it hits something.
The stagecoach driver was hurt in the upset on the icy hill.
Nobody was badly hurt in the upset, but the old farm wagon lost a wheel.
UsagePeople usually say a car rolled over or overturned.
Similarrollover, overturning
Note
- 12
- 13A dangerous moment when a plane's angle or speed goes beyond its normal limits and the pilot may lose control.
- 14To make a hot piece of metal shorter and thicker by hitting its end with a hammer.
- 15In math, a group of items where if one item is included, everything above it in the order is included too.
- 16A row of weaving at the bottom of a basket that holds the upright sticks in place.
- 17To hold a basket's upright sticks in place with a woven base row.
Showing meanings only.
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Origin
From Middle English upset, meaning 'the act of setting up', made from 'up' plus 'set'.
Checked 6 Nov 2026 · 2 facts
- The word derives from Middle English upset, meaning 'the act of setting up'. en.wiktionary.org
- The word is formed from up and set. en.wiktionary.org