Standard Lemma guide

upturn

noun · verb · 3 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

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.

  • Received-Pronunciation: /ˈʌp.tɜːn/
  • General-American: /ˈʌp.tɝn/
  • rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)n
  • US: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • CMU ARPABET: AH0 P T ER1 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.
  • CMU ARPABET 2: AH1 P T ER2 N Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

noun

Meaning 1

An upward turn or trend, especially in business activity or profit.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • Near-synonyms: increase; improvement

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: uptick, increase, improvement

Antonyms: downturn

Broader terms: turn, change, trend

2

verb

Meaning 2

To turn (something) up or over.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: ambitransitive

Examples

  • Near-synonym: turn over

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: overturn, upset, turn over

Antonyms: none provided

3

noun

Meaning 3

an upward movement or trend as in business activity

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: improvement

History

Etymology

From Middle English upturnen, equivalent to up- + turn.

Across languages

Translations

12 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: благоприятен обрат (blagoprijaten obrat) — an upward turn or trend
  • Dutch: opleving — an upward turn or trend
  • Dutch: herneming — an upward turn or trend
  • Finnish: kääntyminen kasvuun — an upward turn or trend
  • Finnish: noususuhdanne — an upward turn or trend
  • French: reprise — an upward turn or trend
  • French: relance — an upward turn or trend
  • French: redressement — an upward turn or trend
  • German: Aufwärtstrend — an upward turn or trend
  • Polish: ożywienie — an upward turn or trend
  • Portuguese: melhora — an upward turn or trend
  • Spanish: repunte — an upward turn or trend