upset

UK: noun: /ˈʌpsɛt/, adjective: /ˈʌpsɛt/, verb: /ʌpˈsɛt/

US: /v., adj. ʌpˈsɛt; n. ˈʌpˌsɛt/

US: (v., adj. up set′; n. up′set′)

Inflections of 'upset' (v): (⇒ conjugate)

upsets

v 3rd person singular

upsetting

v pres p

upset

v past

upset

v past p

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

up•set /v., adj. ʌpˈsɛt; n. ˈʌpˌsɛt/   v., -set, -set•ting, n., adj. 
v. [~ + object]

1. to overturn:
   to upset a glass of milk.
2. to disturb mentally or emotionally;
   distress:
   The accident upset her.
3. to disturb completely;
   throw into disorder:
   to upset a plan.
4. Pathology to disturb physically:
   The food upset his stomach.
5. to defeat (an opponent that is favored), as in politics or sports.

n. [countable]

6. the unexpected defeat of an opponent that is favored.

adj. [usually: be + ~]

7. distressed;
   disturbed:
   She's very upset at the children.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

up•set  (v., adj. up set′;n. up′set′), v., -set, -set•ting, n., adj. 
v.t. 

1. to overturn:
   to upset a pitcher of milk.
2. to disturb mentally or emotionally;
   perturb:
   The incident upset her.
3. to disturb or derange completely;
   put out of order;
   throw into disorder:
   to upset a system;
   to upset a mechanism;
   to upset an apartment.
4. Pathology to disturb physically:
   It upset his stomach.
5. to defeat or overthrow an opponent that is considered more formidable, as in war, politics, or sports.
6. Metallurgy to thicken the end of (a piece of heated metal) by hammering on the end against the length of the piece.

v.i. 

7. to become upset or overturned.

n. 

8. an upsetting or instance of being upset;
   overturn;
   overthrow.
9. the defeat of a person, team, etc., that is considered more formidable.
10. a nervous, irritable state of mind.
11. a disordered or confused arrangement.
12. Metallurgy
    • a tool used for upsetting.
    • something that is upset, as a bar end.

adj. 

13. overturned:
    an upset milk pail.
14. disordered;
    disorganized:
    The house is upset.
15. distressed;
    disturbed:
    She had an upset stomach. He is emotionally upset.
16. [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. 
Synonyms

• 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.

Antonyms

• 2, 3. steady.

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

upset verb / ʌpˈsɛt/ ( -sets, -setting, -set)(mainly tr)

1. (also intr) to tip or be tipped over; overturn, capsize, or spill
2. to disturb the normal state, course, or stability of: to upset the balance of nature
3. to disturb mentally or emotionally
4. to defeat or overthrow, usually unexpectedly
5. to make physically ill: seafood always upsets my stomach
6. to thicken or spread (the end of a bar, rivet, etc) by forging, hammering, or swagging

noun / ˈʌpˌsɛt/

1. an unexpected defeat or reversal, as in a contest or plans
2. a disturbance or disorder of the emotions, body, etc

adjective / ʌpˈsɛt/

1. overturned or capsized
2. emotionally or physically disturbed or distressed
3. disordered; confused
4. 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 opzetten

upˈsetter noun

upˈsetting adjective

upˈsettingly adverb