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
Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 20 Nov. 2024
The slate ends with a must-see showdown in Kansas City, as the 4-4 Buccaneers try to upset the 7-0 Chiefs.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 27 Nov. 2024
While there have been memorable games and championship-altering upsets in the 2024-25 college football season, the top-25 landscape has yet to see a day like this past Saturday.
—Tyler Small, Forbes, 25 Nov. 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.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Verb
Everyone remembers that one year Aunt Cindy mistakenly decided to change up Grandma’s famous corn casserole, upsetting the entire family.
—Tara Massouleh McCay, Southern Living, 20 Nov. 2024
The slate ends with a must-see showdown in Kansas City, as the 4-4 Buccaneers try to upset the 7-0 Chiefs.
—David Faris, Newsweek, 4 Nov. 2024
Noun
Last week's crazy shows up in college football rankings
The fallout from the upsets and significant victories was revealed in the College Football Playoff committee rankings.
—Nicole Fallert, USA TODAY, 27 Nov. 2024
While there have been memorable games and championship-altering upsets in the 2024-25 college football season, the top-25 landscape has yet to see a day like this past Saturday.
—Tyler Small, Forbes, 25 Nov. 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 1 Dec. 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
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share