WordofTheDay.US

Added 9 October 2026

upset

/ʌpˈsɛt/ adjective

Categories: Describing WordsEveryday Words

In Latin: sollicitus Wiktionary

adjective Definition from Wiktionary (CC BY-SA). Pronunciation from Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org. More about upset at Wordnik → Where our words come from →

  1. Angry, distressed, or unhappy
    He was upset when she refused his friendship.
  2. Feeling unwell, nauseated, or ready to vomit.
    His stomach was upset, so he didn't want to move.

noun

  1. Disturbance or disruption.
    My late arrival caused the professor considerable upset.
  2. An unexpected victory of a competitor or candidate that was not favored to win.
  3. An overturn.
    "collision and upset": impact with another object or an overturn for whatever reason.

verb

  1. To make (a person) angry, distressed, or unhappy.
    I’m sure the bad news will upset him, but he needs to know.
  2. To disturb, disrupt or adversely alter (something).
    Introducing a foreign species can upset the ecological balance.
  3. To tip or overturn (something).

Origin

From Middle English upset (“the act of setting up; establishment”), from Middle English upsetten, corresponding to up- + set. Cognate with Middle Low German upset (“setup; arrangement”).

From Wiktionary, via Kaikki.org (CC BY-SA)

Related Words: troubleddistressedworriedperturbationdisturbtroubledisturbancedisconcertdiscomfitdiscomposedisordereddisorganized

Back to today's word