noun
Meaning 1
A turning over or upside-down; inversion.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
Standard Lemma guide
overturn
Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.
Sound
Pronunciation
Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.
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/ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈtɜː(ɹ)n/
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Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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/ˈəʊvə(ɹ)ˌtɜː(ɹ)n/
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Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
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CMU ARPABET: OW1 V ER0 T ER2 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
noun
Meaning 2
The overturning or overthrow of some institution or state of affairs; ruin.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 3
To turn over, capsize or upset.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: ambitransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: tip over
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 4
To overthrow or destroy.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 5
To reverse (a decision); to overrule or rescind.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
Topics: law
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 6
To diminish the significance of a previous defeat by winning; to make a comeback from.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: transitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
verb
Meaning 7
To undergo a limnic eruption, where dissolved gas suddenly erupts from the depths.
Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract
Usage: intransitive
No example sentence was provided for this meaning.
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: none provided
Antonyms: none provided
noun
Meaning 8
an improbable and unexpected victory
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- the biggest upset since David beat Goliath
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: upset
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: success
noun
Meaning 9
the act of upsetting something
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- he was badly bruised by the upset of his sled at a high speed
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: upset, turnover
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: inversion, upending
verb
Meaning 10
change radically
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- E-mail revolutionized communication in academe
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: revolutionize, revolutionise
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: change, alter, modify
verb
Meaning 11
rule against
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- The Republicans were overruled when the House voted on the bill
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: overrule, override, overthrow, reverse
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: rule, decree
verb
Meaning 12
cancel officially
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- He revoked the ban on smoking
- lift an embargo
- vacate a death sentence
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: revoke, annul, lift, countermand, reverse, repeal, rescind, vacate
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: cancel, strike down
Narrower terms: renege, renege on, renegue on, go back on
verb
Meaning 13
turn from an upright or normal position
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- The big vase overturned
- The canoe tumped over
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: turn over, tip over, tump over
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: turn
Narrower terms: capsize, turtle, turn turtle, upend
verb
Meaning 14
cause to overturn from an upright or normal position
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- The cat knocked over the flower vase
- the clumsy customer turned over the vase
- he tumped over his beer
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: tip over, turn over, upset, knock over, bowl over, tump over
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: move, displace
verb
Meaning 15
cause the downfall of; of rulers
Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0
Examples
- The Czar was overthrown
- subvert the ruling class
Meaning relationships
Synonyms: overthrow, subvert, bring down
Antonyms: none provided
Broader terms: depose, force out
Narrower terms: revolutionize
History
Etymology
From Middle English overturnen, equivalent to over- + turn. Compare also Middle English overterven (“to overturn”), see terve.
Across languages
Translations
48 source translations are retained for this English entry.
- Alabama: ɬipìili — to turn over, capsize
- Bulgarian: преобръщам (preobrǎštam) — to turn over, capsize
- Bulgarian: прекатурвам (prekaturvam) — to turn over, capsize
- Dutch: kapseizen — to turn over, capsize
- Dutch: omslaan — to turn over, capsize
- Esperanto: renversi — to turn over, capsize
- Finnish: kumota — to turn over, capsize
- Finnish: kaataa — to turn over, capsize
- Finnish: kaataa ympäri — to turn over, capsize
- French: renverser — to turn over, capsize
- French: retourner — to turn over, capsize
- French: capoter — to turn over, capsize
- French: verser — to turn over, capsize
- Galician: envorcar — to turn over, capsize
- German: sich überschlagen — to turn over, capsize
- Ancient Greek: ἀνατρέπω (anatrépō) — to turn over, capsize
- Italian: ribaltare — to turn over, capsize
- Italian: capovolgere — to turn over, capsize
- Latin: subvertō — to turn over, capsize
- Māori: porohuri — to turn over, capsize
- Māori: whakataupoki — to turn over, capsize
- Māori: urupoki — to turn over, capsize
- Portuguese: capotar — to turn over, capsize
- Scottish Gaelic: cuir thairis — to turn over, capsize
- Spanish: volcar — to turn over, capsize
- Spanish: trabucar — to turn over, capsize
- Thai: คว่ํา (kwâm) — to turn over, capsize
- Turkish: ters dönmek — to turn over, capsize
- Bulgarian: събарям (sǎbarjam) — to overthrow
- Dutch: omverwerpen — to overthrow
- Finnish: kumota — to overthrow
- Finnish: kaataa — to overthrow
- French: renverser — to overthrow
- German: verwerfen — to overthrow
- Latin: subvertō — to overthrow
- Spanish: derrocar — to overthrow
- Bulgarian: отхвърлям (othvǎrljam) — legal: to reverse, overrule
- Dutch: intrekken — legal: to reverse, overrule
- Esperanto: renversi — legal: to reverse, overrule
- Finnish: kumota — legal: to reverse, overrule
- French: casser — legal: to reverse, overrule
- German: aufheben — legal: to reverse, overrule
- Māori: takahuri — legal: to reverse, overrule
- Māori: whakatakahuri — legal: to reverse, overrule
- Portuguese: anular — legal: to reverse, overrule
- Portuguese: derrubar — legal: to reverse, overrule
- Spanish: casar — legal: to reverse, overrule
- Thai: คว่ํา (kwâm) — legal: to reverse, overrule