UPSET (upsetting)

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does upset mean? 

• UPSET (noun)
  The noun UPSET has 6 senses:

1. an unhappy and worried mental state

2. the act of disturbing the mind or body

3. a physical condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning

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

5. the act of upsetting something

6. an improbable and unexpected victory

  Familiarity information: UPSET used as a noun is common.

• UPSET (adjective)
  The adjective UPSET has 5 senses:

1. afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief

2. thrown into a state of disarray or confusion

3. used of an unexpected defeat of a team favored to win

4. mildly physically distressed

5. having been turned so that the bottom is no longer the bottom

  Familiarity information: UPSET used as an adjective is common.

• UPSET (verb)
  The verb UPSET has 6 senses:

1. disturb the balance or stability of

2. cause to lose one's composure

3. move deeply

4. cause to overturn from an upright or normal position

5. form metals with a swage

6. defeat suddenly and unexpectedly

  Familiarity information: UPSET used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• UPSET (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

An unhappy and worried mental state

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

disturbance; perturbation; upset

Context example:

she didn't realize the upset she caused me

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)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The act of disturbing the mind or body

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

derangement; overthrow; upset

Context example:

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

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

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

Derivation:

upset (move deeply)

Sense 3

Meaning:

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting stable states of affairs

Synonyms:

disorder; upset

Context example:

everyone gets stomach upsets from time to time

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"):

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

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)

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

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)

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

immunological disorder (a disorder of the immune system)

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)

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)

dysphagia (condition in which swallowing is difficult or painful)

eating disorder (a disorder of the normal eating routine)

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

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

swage; upset

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:

The act of upsetting something

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

overturn; turnover; upset

Context example:

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

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 6

Meaning:

An improbable and unexpected victory

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

overturn; upset

Context example:

the biggest upset since David beat Goliath

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

success (an attainment that is successful)

Derivation:

upset (defeat suddenly and unexpectedly)

• UPSET (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief

Synonyms:

disquieted; distressed; disturbed; upset; worried

Context example:

one last worried check of the sleeping children

Similar:

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

Sense 2

Meaning:

Thrown into a state of disarray or confusion

Synonyms:

broken; confused; disordered; upset

Context example:

with everything so upset

Similar:

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

Sense 3

Meaning:

Used of an unexpected defeat of a team favored to win

Context example:

the Bills' upset victory over the Houston Oilers

Similar:

unexpected (not expected or anticipated)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Mildly physically distressed

Context example:

an upset stomach

Similar:

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

Sense 5

Meaning:

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

Synonyms:

overturned; upset; upturned

Context example:

sat on an upturned bucket

Similar:

turned (moved around an axis or center)

• UPSET (verb)

Conjugation:

Sense 1

Meaning:

Disturb the balance or stability of

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Context example:

The hostile talks upset the peaceful relations between the two countries

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

disturb; touch (tamper with)

Sentence frames:

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

Sense 2

Meaning:

Cause to lose one's composure

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

discomfit; discompose; disconcert; untune; upset

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 3

Meaning:

Move deeply

Classified under:

Verbs of feeling

Synonyms:

disturb; trouble; upset

Context example:

A troubling thought

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"):

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

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)

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 4

Meaning:

Cause to overturn from an upright or normal position

Classified under:

Verbs of walking, flying, swimming

Synonyms:

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

Context example:

he tumped over his beer

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)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Form metals with a swage

Classified under:

Verbs of touching, hitting, tying, digging

Synonyms:

swage; upset

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 6

Meaning:

Defeat suddenly and unexpectedly

Classified under:

Verbs of fighting, athletic activities

Context example:

The foreign team upset the local team

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)

 Context examples 

I hadn't the heart to write last night; that terrible record of Jonathan's upset me so.

(Dracula, by Bram Stoker)

I wonder whereabouts they will upset to-day.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Airway Questionnaire 20 (AQ20) Do you worry when going to a friend's house that there might be something there that will upset your chest?

(AQ20 - Worry When Going to Friend House Something Will Upset Your Chest, NCI Thesaurus)

Try not to get so upset that you say things you’ll later regret, especially if the person is important to you.

(AstrologyZone.com, by Susan Miller)

Meanwhile, your arrangement was rather upset by the fact that you had yourself fallen in love with the lady.

(The Return of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Flu almost never causes an upset stomach.

(Flu, NIH: National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases)

A question about the frequency an individual is or was upset about something unexpected during the last month.

(How Often Upset By Something Unexpected in the Last Month, NCI Thesaurus)

Symptoms include fever and chills, headache, upset stomach and vomiting.

(Listeria Infections, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention)

At the same time I recognise that the evidence is purely circumstantial, and that some new development may upset it.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

My sister asked me what was the matter, and why I was so pale; but I told her that I had been upset by the jewel robbery at the hotel.

(The Adventures of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)