upset
uhp-SEHT
Upset (adj) means Unhappy, distressed, or annoyed. Example: “She was upset after losing the match.”
adj
1
Unhappy, distressed, or annoyed.
"She was upset after losing the match."
"He got upset when his flight was cancelled."
"The children were upset when their picnic was rained off."
noun
1
An unexpected result in which the favorite loses.
"The underdog's win was one of the biggest upsets in tournament history."
"Few people expected the home side to cause such a big upset."
"The cup is famous for its upsets, when small clubs beat giants."
2
A mild stomach illness.
"He stayed home with a stomach upset."
"A bad upset kept her in bed for two days."
"Drink plenty of water if you have an upset after travelling."
verb
1
To make someone distressed or unhappy.
"The news upset the whole family."
"I did not mean to upset you with my careless comment."
"Seeing the lost puppy upset the little girl terribly."
2
To disrupt or overturn something, including an expected outcome.
"The strike upset the entire delivery schedule."
"Heavy snow upset our travel plans for the whole weekend."
"A late goal upset all the predictions and stunned the crowd."
How to use upset
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo feel or cause distress, or an unexpected result/disruption.
Common pairings
upset stomach
major upset
upset the balance
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Word forms
- Plural
- upsets
- Third person singular
- upsets
- Comparative
- more upset
- Superlative
- most upset
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She was _____ after losing the match.
Etymology
From Middle English upsetten, from up- + set.
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “upset” mean?
The word “upset” means unhappy, distressed, or annoyed. In plain terms, to feel or cause distress, or an unexpected result/disruption.
How do you pronounce “upset”?
“Upset” is pronounced uhp-SEHT (/ʌpˈsɛt/ in IPA).
How do you use “upset” in a sentence?
Here is “upset” used in a sentence: “She was upset after losing the match.”
What is another word for “upset”?
Words with a similar meaning to “upset” include in a tizzy, agitate, freak, bother, bring down and discompose.
What is the opposite of “upset”?
The opposite of “upset” — its antonyms — are alleviate, appease, calm, comfort and compose.
What part of speech is “upset”?
Depending on how it is used, “upset” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “upset” come from?
The word “upset” comes from Middle English. From Middle English upsetten, from up- + set.
Is “upset” a common word?
“Upset” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between upset and angry?
Upset is a broad word covering being unhappy, distressed, or annoyed, and it often carries hurt or sadness rather than pure rage. Angry is specifically about strong displeasure and the urge to lash out. You can be upset and tearful without being angry, or upset in a way that includes some anger.
How strong is the word upset?
Upset is mild to moderate. It signals that someone's emotional balance has been disturbed — they are troubled, distressed, or annoyed — but it stops short of extremes like devastated or furious. Its vagueness is useful: it acknowledges real distress without pinning down whether the person is sad, hurt, worried, or cross.
What is the opposite of upset?
The opposite is a settled, contented state — words like calm, composed, happy, or untroubled. Where upset suggests emotional balance has been knocked off course, these describe someone at ease. The image behind the word is literally being "turned over," so its opposite is being steady and level.
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