up·set
(ˌ)əp-ˈset 
upset; upsetting
1
: to thicken and shorten (something, such as a heated bar of iron) by hammering on the end : swage
2
: to force out of the usual upright, level, or proper position : overturn
3
a
: to trouble mentally or emotionally : disturb the poise of
the news upset me
b
: to throw into disorder
c
d
: to defeat unexpectedly
was upset in the primary
4
: to cause a physical disorder in
specifically
: to make somewhat ill
spicy food upsets my stomach
: to become overturned
upsetter
noun
1
: an act of overturning : overturn
2
a(1)
: an act of throwing into disorder : disarrangement
(2)
: a state of disorder : confusion
b
: an unexpected defeat
3
a
: a minor physical disorder
a stomach upset
b
: an emotional disturbance
went through a big upset after his father's death
4
a
: a part of a rod (such as the head on a bolt) that is upset
b
: the expansion of a bullet on striking
up·set
(ˌ)əp-ˈset
1
: emotionally disturbed or agitated
was too upset to speak to him
2
: affected with minor physical disturbance or disorder
an upset stomach
Synonyms
Examples of upset in a Sentence
Verb
That remark you made really upset me.
Don't upset yourself over it.
It upsets him that he can do nothing to help.
A lot of people were upset by the court's decision.
It upsets me to think I might never see him again.
Spicy food upsets my stomach.
Noun
In a major upset, he took the gold medal.
Her victory in the election was a big upset.
Spicy foods can cause stomach upset.
An emotional upset can affect your physical health.
a period of emotional upset
Adjective
I was feeling upset by the whole experience.
There's no point in getting all upset about it.
I try not to let her make me upset.
She was too upset to speak to him.
I'm upset that you didn't call.
I was so upset with him, I didn't call him for two weeks.
Recent Examples on the Web
Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
But a poll by the University of Southern California and California State University taken in September showed that most District 12 others remained undecided, which Tran seized as giving her a chance to upset Simon come election day.
—Chase Hunter, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
The first round of the inaugural CIF Southern Section Division 1 girls’ flag football playoffs on Saturday produced several upsets, many exciting finishes and plenty of touchdowns, including two by Ventura receiver Kaiya Cooke in a 28-20 victory over Agoura.
—Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2024
David Ingram, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
Trump carried Kent County on the way to his upset Michigan win in 2016, defeating Hillary Clinton by around three percentage points.
—Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for upset 
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
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Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
The suspect, a 62-year-old man identified only by his surname, Fan, was said to be upset by the division of property after his divorce.
—Jennifer Jett, NBC News, 13 Nov. 2024
But a poll by the University of Southern California and California State University taken in September showed that most District 12 others remained undecided, which Tran seized as giving her a chance to upset Simon come election day.
—Chase Hunter, The Mercury News, 6 Nov. 2024
Noun
Key races: One of the most notable upsets occurred in House District 25, where progressive Kim Coco Iwamoto ousted House Speaker Scott Saiki, leaving a leadership vacancy that will be addressed after the election.
—USA TODAY, 29 Oct. 2024
The first round of the inaugural CIF Southern Section Division 1 girls’ flag football playoffs on Saturday produced several upsets, many exciting finishes and plenty of touchdowns, including two by Ventura receiver Kaiya Cooke in a 28-20 victory over Agoura.
—Steve Galluzzo, Los Angeles Times, 27 Oct. 2024
Adjective
The post-election dynamic is reminiscent of a famous gathering of tech titans at Trump Tower in December 2016, a month after Trump’s first upset win in a presidential race, when some of the same executives braced themselves for unpredictable policy shifts.
—David Ingram, NBC News, 6 Nov. 2024
Trump carried Kent County on the way to his upset Michigan win in 2016, defeating Hillary Clinton by around three percentage points.
—Clara Hendrickson, Detroit Free Press, 5 Nov. 2024
See all Example Sentences for upset
Dictionary Entries Near upset
Cite this Entry
“Upset.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upset. Accessed 28 Nov. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
upset
1 of 3 verb
up·set
(ˌ)əp-ˈset
upset; upsetting
1
: to force or be forced out of the usual position : overturn
2
a
: to worry, anger, or cause unhappiness to
the news upset me
b
: to make somewhat ill
spicy food upsets my stomach
3
a
: to throw into disorder
b
: to defeat unexpectedly
upset
2 of 3 noun
up·set
ˈəp-ˌset
1
: an act or result of upsetting : a state of being upset
2
a
: a minor illness
a stomach upset
b
: a period of worry or unhappiness
upset
3 of 3 adjective
up·set
(ˌ)əp-ˈset
: emotionally disturbed or shaken up
was too upset to talk
Medical Definition
upset
1 of 3 transitive verb
up·set
(ˌ)əp-ˈset
upset; upsetting
1
: to trouble mentally or emotionally
the news upset me
2
: to cause a physical disorder in
specifically
: to make somewhat ill
greasy food upsets my stomach
upset
2 of 3 noun
up·set
ˈəp-ˌset
1
: a minor physical disorder
a stomach upset
2
: an emotional disturbance
upset
3 of 3 adjective
up·set
(ˌ)əp-ˈset
1
: affected with a minor physical disturbance
an upset stomach
2
: emotionally disturbed or agitated
was too upset to speak
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