Library / English Dictionary

UPSET

Irregular inflected form: upsetting   

 I. (noun) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

An improbable and unexpected victory

Example:

the biggest upset since David beat Goliath

Synonyms:

overturn; upset

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("upset" is a kind of...):

success (an attainment that is successful)

Derivation:

upset (defeat suddenly and unexpectedly)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of upsetting something

Example:

he was badly bruised by the upset of his sled at a high speed

Synonyms:

overturn; turnover; upset

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("upset" is a kind of...):

inversion; upending (turning upside down; setting on end)

Derivation:

upset (cause to overturn from an upright or normal position)

Sense 3

Meaning:

The act of disturbing the mind or body

Example:

she was unprepared for this sudden overthrow of their normal way of living

Synonyms:

derangement; overthrow; upset

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Hypernyms ("upset" is a kind of...):

disturbance (the act of disturbing something or someone; setting something in motion)

Derivation:

upset (move deeply)

Sense 4

Meaning:

A tool used to thicken or spread metal (the end of a bar or a rivet etc.) by forging or hammering or swaging

Synonyms:

swage; upset

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Hypernyms ("upset" is a kind of...):

tool (an implement used in the practice of a vocation)

Derivation:

upset (form metals with a swage)

Sense 5

Meaning:

A physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning

Example:

everyone gets stomach upsets from time to time

Synonyms:

disorder; upset

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("upset" is a kind of...):

physical condition; physiological condition; physiological state (the condition or state of the body or bodily functions)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "upset"):

dysuria (painful or difficult urination)

failure (loss of ability to function normally)

fantods (an ill-defined state of irritability and distress)

adenosis; gland disease; glandular disease; glandular disorder (a disorder of the glands of the body)

hyperactivity (a condition characterized by excessive restlessness and movement)

impacted tooth; impaction (a disorder in which a tooth is so crowded in its socket that it cannot erupt normally)

impaction (a disorder in which feces are impacted in the lower colon)

learning disability; learning disorder (a disorder found in children of normal intelligence who have difficulties in learning specific skills)

malocclusion ((dentistry) a condition in which the opposing teeth do not mesh normally)

idiopathic disease; idiopathic disorder; idiopathy (any disease arising from internal dysfunctions of unknown cause)

disturbance; folie; mental disorder; mental disturbance; psychological disorder ((psychiatry) a psychological disorder of thought or emotion; a more neutral term than mental illness)

metabolic disorder (a disorder or defect of metabolism)

nervous disorder; neurological disease; neurological disorder (a disorder of the nervous system)

hydrocele (disorder in which serous fluid accumulates in a body sac (especially in the scrotum))

sleep disorder (a disturbance of the normal sleep pattern)

strangulation (the condition of having respiration stopped by compression of the air passage)

haematocolpometra; hematocolpometra (accumulation of blood in the vagina and uterus)

haematocolpos; hematocolpos (accumulation of menstrual blood in the vagina (usually due to an imperforate hymen))

defect of speech; speech defect; speech disorder (a disorder of oral speech)

psilosis; sprue; tropical sprue (a chronic disorder that occurs in tropical and non-tropical forms and in both children and adults; nutrients are not absorbed; symptoms include foul-smelling diarrhea and emaciation)

immunological disorder (a disorder of the immune system)

functional disorder (disorder showing symptoms for which no physiological or anatomical cause can be identified)

organic disorder (disorder caused by a detectable physiological or structural change in an organ)

abocclusion (the condition in which the upper teeth do not touch the lower teeth when biting)

abruptio placentae (a disorder of pregnancy in which the placenta prematurely separates from the wall of the uterus)

achlorhydria (an abnormal deficiency or absence of free hydrochloric acid in the gastric juice; often associated with severe anemias and cancer of the stomach)

acholia; cholestasis (a condition in which little or no bile is secreted or the flow of bile into the digestive tract is obstructed)

achylia; achylia gastrica (absence of gastric juices (partial or complete))

acute brain disorder; acute organic brain syndrome (any disorder (as sudden confusion or disorientation) in an otherwise normal person that is due to reversible (temporary) impairment of brain tissues (as by head injuries or drugs or infection))

ailment; complaint; ill (an often persistent bodily disorder or disease; a cause for complaining)

eating disorder (a disorder of the normal eating routine)

bladder disorder (a disorder of the urinary bladder)

cardiovascular disease (a disease of the heart or blood vessels)

celiac disease (a disorder in children and adults; inability to tolerate wheat protein (gluten); symptoms include foul-smelling diarrhea and emaciation; often accompanied by lactose intolerance)

cheilosis; perleche (a disorder of the lips marked by scaling and fissures at the corners of the mouth; caused by a deficiency of riboflavin)

choking (a condition caused by blocking the airways to the lungs (as with food or swelling of the larynx))

colpoxerosis (a condition in which the vagina is unusually dry)

degenerative disorder (condition leading to progressive loss of function)

dysaphia (a disorder in the sense of touch)

dysosmia; olfactory impairment; parosamia (a disorder in the sense of smell)

dysphagia (condition in which swallowing is difficult or painful)

Sense 6

Meaning:

An unhappy and worried mental state

Example:

she didn't realize the upset she caused me

Synonyms:

disturbance; perturbation; upset

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Hypernyms ("upset" is a kind of...):

agitation (a mental state of extreme emotional disturbance)

Derivation:

upset (move deeply)

upset (cause to lose one's composure)

 II. (adjective) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Used of an unexpected defeat of a team favored to win

Example:

the Bills' upset victory over the Houston Oilers

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

unexpected (not expected or anticipated)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Thrown into a state of disarray or confusion

Example:

with everything so upset

Synonyms:

broken; confused; disordered; upset

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

disorganised; disorganized (lacking order or methodical arrangement or function)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief

Example:

one last worried check of the sleeping children

Synonyms:

disquieted; distressed; disturbed; upset; worried

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

troubled (characterized by or indicative of distress or affliction or danger or need)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Having been turned so that the bottom is no longer the bottom

Example:

sat on an upturned bucket

Synonyms:

overturned; upset; upturned

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

turned (moved around an axis or center)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Mildly physically distressed

Example:

an upset stomach

Classified under:

Adjectives

Similar:

ill; sick (affected by an impairment of normal physical or mental function)

 III. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Disturb the balance or stability of

Example:

The hostile talks upset the peaceful relations between the two countries

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "upset" is one way to...):

disturb; touch (tamper with)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Sense 2

Meaning:

Defeat suddenly and unexpectedly

Example:

The foreign team upset the local team

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Hypernyms (to "upset" is one way to...):

defeat; get the better of; overcome (win a victory over)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The fighter managed to upset his opponent

Derivation:

upset (an improbable and unexpected victory)

upsetter (an unexpected winner; someone who defeats the favorite competitor)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Form metals with a swage

Synonyms:

swage; upset

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Hypernyms (to "upset" is one way to...):

forge; form; mold; mould; shape; work (make something, usually for a specific function)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

Derivation:

upset (a tool used to thicken or spread metal (the end of a bar or a rivet etc.) by forging or hammering or swaging)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Move deeply

Example:

A troubling thought

Synonyms:

disturb; trouble; upset

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "upset" is one way to...):

affect; impress; move; strike (have an emotional or cognitive impact upon)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "upset"):

distress (cause mental pain to)

cark; disorder; disquiet; distract; perturb; trouble; unhinge (disturb in mind or make uneasy or cause to be worried or alarmed)

jolt (disturb (someone's) composure)

agitate; charge; charge up; commove; excite; rouse; turn on (cause to be agitated, excited, or roused)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The bad news will upset him

Derivation:

upset (the act of disturbing the mind or body)

upset (an unhappy and worried mental state)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Cause to lose one's composure

Synonyms:

discomfit; discompose; disconcert; untune; upset

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Hypernyms (to "upset" is one way to...):

arouse; elicit; enkindle; evoke; fire; kindle; provoke; raise (call forth (emotions, feelings, and responses))

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "upset"):

enervate; faze; unnerve; unsettle (disturb the composure of)

dissolve (cause to lose control emotionally)

inhibit (make (someone) self-conscious and as a result unable to act naturally)

bemuse; bewilder; discombobulate; throw (cause to be confused emotionally)

abash; embarrass (cause to be embarrassed; cause to feel self-conscious)

anguish; hurt; pain (cause emotional anguish or make miserable)

afflict (cause great unhappiness for; distress)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s somebody
Something ----s somebody

Sentence example:

The performance is likely to upset Sue

Derivation:

upset (an unhappy and worried mental state)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Cause to overturn from an upright or normal position

Example:

he tumped over his beer

Synonyms:

bowl over; knock over; overturn; tip over; tump over; turn over; upset

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Hypernyms (to "upset" is one way to...):

displace; move (cause to move or shift into a new position or place, both in a concrete and in an abstract sense)

Cause:

overturn; tip over; tump over; turn over (turn from an upright or normal position)

Verb group:

overturn; tip over; tump over; turn over (turn from an upright or normal position)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

upset (the act of upsetting something)

Credits

 Context examples: 

The animal thereby learns to associate the taste with stomach upset.

(Researchers identify area of the amygdala involved in taste aversion, University of Granada)

Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) Does the patient become nervous and upset when separated from you (or his/her caregiver)?

(NPI - Become Nervous and Upset When Separated From You, NCI Thesaurus)

Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) Do you frequently get upset over little things?

(GDS - Often Upset Over Little Things, NCI Thesaurus)

Neuropsychiatric Inventory (NPI) Does the patient get upset with those trying to care for him/her or resist activities such as bathing or changing clothes?

(NPI - Get Upset with Those Trying to Care for Him/Her, NCI Thesaurus)

If you have OCD, you have frequent, upsetting thoughts called obsessions.

(Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, NIH: National Institute of Mental Health)

So absorbed was he in his thoughts, I remember, that he stumbled over the watering-pot, upset its contents, and deluged both our feet and the garden path.

(His Last Bow, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) GI upset.

(COWS - GI Upset, NCI Thesaurus)

A form of the mineral calcium that is used to prevent or treat osteoporosis (a decrease in bone mass and density) and to treat heartburn and upset stomach.

(Calcium carbonate, NCI Dictionary)

Airway Questionnaire 20 (AQ20) Does getting emotionally upset make your chest trouble worse?

(AQ20 - Getting Emotionally Upset Make Chest Trouble Worse, NCI Thesaurus)

Airway Questionnaire 20 (AQ20) Does your partner find your chest trouble upsetting?

(AQ20 - Partner Find Your Chest Trouble Upsetting, NCI Thesaurus)