upside down

adverb

up·​side down ˈəp-ˌsīd-ˈdau̇n How to pronounce upside down (audio)
Synonyms of upside downnext
1
: in such a way that the upper and the lower parts are reversed in position
2
: in or into great disorder
turned their world upside down
upside-down
ˈəp-ˌsīd-ˈdau̇n How to pronounce upside down (audio)
adjective

Examples of upside down in a Sentence

You hung the picture upside down! To remove the plant, turn the pot upside down and tap gently on the bottom to loosen it. The baby was holding the book upside down.
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
As with everything in college football, don’t overlook the impact of the transfer portal in turning the Heisman race upside down. — Mitch Sherman, New York Times, 26 Aug. 2026 Granted exclusive access to the nest, the BBC witnessed some of the raptors’ striking feeding behavior, in which the male drops prey in midair and the female rolls upside down to snatch it in her talons. — Moná Thomas, PEOPLE, 25 Aug. 2026 After hanging upside down for several minutes, Sandy tumbled farther down and finally winged her way to a nearby tree. — Alex Ross, New Yorker, 24 Aug. 2026 About 30 riders were stranded upside down when the spinning pendulum-style ride became stuck in a vertical position on June 14, 2024. — Brittany Miller, FOXNews.com, 21 Aug. 2026 See All Example Sentences for upside down

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English up so doun, from up + so + doun down

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of upside down was in the 15th century

Rhymes for upside down

See All Rhymes for upside down

Browse Nearby Words

upside
upside down
upside-down cake
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Upside down.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upside%20down. Accessed 1 Sep. 2026.

Copy Citation

Kids Definition

upside down

adverb
up·​side down ˌəp-ˌsīd-ˈdau̇n How to pronounce upside down (audio)
1
: with the upper part underneath and the lower part on top
2
: in or into great disorder
upside-down adjective

Legal Definition

upside down

adjective
: underwater
upside down mortgages
upside down homes
upside down homeowners
Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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