upset
upset Lexical Profile
upset Game Scores & Validity
• adjective
Unhappy, disappointed, or worried about something.
"She was deeply upset when she learned that her flight had been canceled."
Slightly ill or experiencing mild physical discomfort, especially in the stomach.
"He stayed home from school because he had an upset stomach."
Denoting an unexpected victory or result in a competition.
"The rookie achieved an upset victory over the reigning world champion."
• verb
To make someone unhappy, disappointed, or worried.
"The harsh criticism from the panel clearly upset the young artist."
To disrupt or interfere with a plan, balance, or established routine.
"Unseasonable rain threatened to upset the harvesting schedule."
To cause mild illness or discomfort in the digestive system.
"Eating too much rich food late at night can easily upset your stomach."
To unexpectedly defeat an opponent who was favored to win in a competition or election.
"The visiting college team managed to upset the undefeated champions in the final seconds."
To knock over or tip something out of its upright position.
"The playful kitten accidentally upset a vase of fresh flowers on the table."
• noun
An unexpected result or situation, especially in a sports competition or election in which an underdog defeats a clear favorite.
"The unseeded player's triumph over the defending champion was the biggest upset of the tournament."
A state of being unhappy, disappointed, or emotionally disturbed.
"The sudden change in management caused considerable upset among the staff."
A minor physical disorder or digestive disturbance.
"Rich and spicy foods often give him a stomach upset."
Word Nuance & Usage
'Upset' is a heteronym whose stress shifts by part of speech: as a verb and predicative adjective it is typically stressed on the second syllable (up-SET), whereas as a noun and attributive adjective it is stressed on the first syllable (UP-set).
• Rhymes for upset
Word Origin & Etymology
Formed in Middle English from 'up' and 'set', originally meaning to set up or raise. The modern sense of overturning or disturbing developed in the late 18th and early 19th centuries.