Home UK English upset

Meaning of upset in English:

upset

verbupsets, upsetting, upset

[with object]

  • 1Make (someone) unhappy, disappointed, or worried.

    ‘the accusation upset her’
    • ‘And because I'm her granddaughter, she is going to worry more about upsetting me than about being honest, maybe.’
    • ‘The lessons were free, so I'm not worried about upsetting anyone.’
    • ‘Aimée glanced up at Logan and studied him, unhappy that she'd upset him by ‘going back on their agreement’.’
    • ‘You can tell if this is your problem by answering these questions: Does criticism or disapproval upset you?’
    • ‘We were constantly walking on eggshells because we were worried about upsetting him in case it would cause a situation.’
    • ‘The girl seems worried about upsetting him or making him angry.’
    • ‘Now he was worried about upsetting her, and part of him hated the feeling.’
    • ‘I let my eyes close for just a moment, letting the feelings that upset me and worry me slip away.’
    • ‘She was so brisk and to the point that Fred felt uneasy and worried she might upset her when she had to tell her she didn't really know where Angel's car was found.’
    • ‘In sixth grade, Landon's parents got divorced and it really upset him.’
    • ‘Seriously, yesterday's events really spooked, depressed and upset me.’
    • ‘However, last week's paper upset me enough that I decided I should share my disappointment.’
    • ‘Even the fall of the ninth wicket failed to upset him.’
    • ‘Lorry guiltily watched Stephen disappear through the trees, aware that something was upsetting him.’
    • ‘We know how much these things matter to you - how it upsets you that most people in Washington won't even return your calls anymore.’
    • ‘‘It upsets me when people say Scots are not good enough, because we do have some very good athletes on the world stage,’ he said.’
    • ‘It upsets me that people who don't know him personally can judge him.’
    • ‘Kitty's disappearance, and Lydia's comment, had upset her.’
    • ‘He hadn't meant to upset her, he just didn't want people worrying over him.’
    • ‘I've seen reports this last week that have upset me when people in the media have called this guy names.’
    distress, trouble, perturb, disturb, discompose, unsettle, disconcert, discountenance, dismay, disquiet, worry, bother, inconvenience, agitate, fluster, throw, ruffle, unnerve, shake, frighten, alarm, anger, annoy, irritate, vex, irk, fret, pester, harass, torment, plague, hurt, grieve
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  • 2Knock (something) over.

    ‘he upset a tureen of soup’
    • ‘Her new paint jar was upset, along with the chair lying side ways on the floor.’
    • ‘‘Oh, I'm so terribly sorry’, he adds, thoroughly mortified, reaching for a napkin and upsetting the table again.’
    • ‘A few minutes later, the ship trembled slightly, enough to make one lose their balance, but not enough to upset anything.’
    knock over, overturn, upend, tip over, push over, topple, topple over, capsize, turn topsy-turvy
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  • 3Cause disorder in; disrupt.

    ‘the dam will upset the ecological balance’
    • ‘We read regularly about the horrors that can befall our planet if we upset the fine ecological balance.’
    • ‘Long hours and late hours could upset the ‘work-life balance’, especially when there are inadequate support systems.’
    • ‘While they cannot win, they can upset the normal campaigning balance.’
    • ‘Mankind has become like a plague to the planet, it offers it no ecological benefit, and upsets the existing ecological equilibrium.’
    • ‘Eucalyptus plantations in the Brazilian Amazon have wrecked vast swathes of the rainforest by upsetting the delicate ecological system.’
    • ‘While birds of prey had once played an important role in maintaining the balance of nature, that balance had been upset when human hunters arrived on the scene.’
    • ‘I know both are extreme examples, but they demonstrate how easy the balance can be upset by careless dismissal or rework of crucial elements.’
    • ‘When gold was discovered in such vast quantities, it upset this delicate monetary balance.’
    • ‘However, this balance can be easily upset for a variety of reasons, which can result in pain, itching, irritation and infection.’
    • ‘It's best to retain inner balance and avoid being unduly upset by developments at work or at home.’
    • ‘Thus, the traditional ‘balance’ of offensive and defensive weapons could eventually be upset.’
    • ‘The balance of nature has been drastically upset and the environment is already paying the price.’
    • ‘Meanwhile other developments threatened to upset the fragile strategic nuclear balance.’
    • ‘The press cannot get enough of any new development that might upset that balance, and detonate an explosion.’
    • ‘You're born with balance, but bad habits like depriving yourself of the foods you need or ignoring high stress levels can upset that balance and cause you to gain weight.’
    • ‘Our culture seems amazingly adept at devouring what might harm or upset it.’
    • ‘Anything that knocks the weekly routine may upset the equilibrium.’
    • ‘In the early stages I picked up some debris, which damaged my deflector and upset the balance of the car, which made it difficult to handle for the rest of the Grand Prix.’
    • ‘I think this has the potential to upset the whole system.’
    • ‘The inclement weather upset the league again last weekend with no junior games being played.’
    disrupt, interfere with, disturb, throw out, turn topsy-turvy, disorder, unsettle, confuse, throw into confusion, throw into chaos, throw into disorder, disorganize, disarrange, mix up, jumble, mess up, wreck, ruin
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    1. 3.1Disturb the digestion of (a person's stomach)
      ‘the motion of the boat would upset his stomach’
      • ‘Avoid carbonated drinks as these are likely to upset your stomach more than still liquids’
      • ‘Her weight dropped by more than 30 pounds; she was frightened that food would upset her stomach.’
      • ‘There are certain medications that upset the stomach while others affect the mouth or throat which may make it difficult for the patient to eat.’
      • ‘Some people find that certain types of food upset their bowels and they may need to adjust their diet accordingly.’
      • ‘However, if drinking a shake before or during a workout upsets your stomach or you just don't like drinking a mix in the gym, then time is of the essence when your training ends.’
      • ‘If it upsets your stomach, reduce the dosage and consume it with a meal.’
      • ‘It was a dish I thought adults and kids would eat, even if their stomachs were upset from worry or illness or life.’
      • ‘It was delicious wine, though Geneva only drank water for she was fearful the strong liquid would upset her stomach, or perhaps hurt the baby.’
      • ‘Recommended dosage is one lozenge every 2 hours, preferably with food, since zinc sometimes upsets the stomach.’
      • ‘While garlic upsets Dad's stomach, it just deprives me of sleep.’
      • ‘But use the oil judiciously; too much may upset your stomach.’
      • ‘‘After that we fed them meat… and maybe the moving bus also upset their stomachs,’ said Mhlauli.’
      • ‘My stomach was upset and I had the world's worst headache.’
      • ‘All that concentration upset his stomach all over again.’
      • ‘Americans often believe that hot spices upset the stomach.’
      • ‘Don't exceed these doses; large amounts of horseradish can upset your stomach.’
      • ‘The quick movement upset Jabin's stomach, and he kneeled over to relieve his stomach of the pressure.’
      • ‘Razi took only the minimal food requirement, not wanting to upset her stomach on the ship.’
      • ‘Eating and exercising at the same time is more likely to upset your stomach than it is to motivate you.’
      • ‘When something feels awry, their agitation mounts, causing real stomach upset and pain.’

  • 4Shorten and thicken the end or edge of (a metal bar, wheel rim, or other object), especially by hammering or pressure when heated.

    ‘Pressure is then applied and the arcs are extinguished and upsetting occurs.’
    ‘This process was developed originally to gather, or upset metal to form heads on bolts.’

noun

  • 1An unexpected result or situation.

    ‘the greatest upset in boxing history’
    • ‘As the election campaign gathers pace, a discernible public alienation and antagonism is being felt around the mainstream parties that may result in some unexpected upsets at the polls’
    • ‘Again, things could be further complicated if there are upsets or no results in the minor matches.’
    • ‘And so it has been for supporters of Roscommon and Leitrim who have seen ‘middling’ teams cause major and unexpected upsets over the years.’
    • ‘A McBride victory would represent one of the biggest upsets in Florida political history, according to analysts.’
    • ‘Others argue that the two-week interim since the semi-final stage allowed bands to do so much work on their selections that an upset could result.’
    • ‘It is believed a firm upset by the situation were trying to get back equipment locked in the plant.’
    • ‘This week the Cafe Kronborg Monday Bowling League had some upsets and some close matches, but Mio's team stayed firmly on top, as the rest of the league begins to slip away.’
    • ‘The tournament has produced some of the most dramatic moments in sports with last-second miracle shots and massive upsets seemingly an annual event.’
    • ‘If you have a family, you have a responsibility to protect them against the unexpected upsets of life.’
    • ‘I think that you could make the case that it was the biggest upset in tournament history because it happened in a regional final.’
    • ‘The result was one of the most dramatic political upsets since Indian independence almost 60 years ago.’
    • ‘Investment is the main outstanding issue, especially now as a result of Turkey's present economic upsets.’
    • ‘It can be as simple as assigning selected swimmers to highly unexpected events, or as complex as attempting to orchestrate upsets in predetermined key races.’
    • ‘Fifty years after recording perhaps the greatest upset in endurance racing history, Sir Stirling Moss and the little Italian sports car he drove to victory are returning to Sebring.’
    • ‘The team started off the season with a shocking upset over the University of Manitoba, a team that hadn't lost since 1999.’
    • ‘Germany sprang one of the greatest upsets in World Cup history in 1954 when they overcame Hungary, who had been unbeaten for four years.’
    • ‘The Puerto Rican men's basketball team inflicted one of the greatest upsets in Olympic history today.’
    • ‘And it's being described as one of the biggest upsets in Academy Awards history.’
    • ‘Her defeat was the biggest upset so far at the Edmonton championships.’
    • ‘Various national upsets within the party, specifically revelations that one politician was on a list of tax defaulters, had also marred the image of the party and of politicians as a whole.’
    unexpected result
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  • 2mass noun The state of being unhappy, disappointed, or worried.

    ‘a legal dispute will cause worry and upset’
    • ‘It can get out of control and is the cause of much upset and worry for many people.’
    • ‘Christine, who now works at Woodhead Brothers, Colne, broke down as she heard the verdict and said she was looking forward to getting back to a normal life after ten months of worry and upset and the threat of jail.’
    • ‘Walking over, his face showed rising worry and upset.’
    • ‘Not knowing how to get through it was the main source of the worry and upset.’
    • ‘Henry always bounced back from disappointment and upset.’
    • ‘Teenage troublemakers who are causing upset in a corner of Morecambe are being warned against inflicting further misery on residents.’
    • ‘The defendant has further submitted that the claimant cannot recover for upset, nightmares or flashbacks as these do not amount to psychological injury.’
    • ‘Stress and upset can create a wealth of horrible sensations.’
    • ‘‘She went to bed feeling upset, shocked and sick,’ Mr Murphy said.’
    • ‘Local taxi drivers are becoming upset at the growing number of passengers who disappear after booking a taxi by telephone.’
    • ‘Anyone who has ever come home to the sick feeling of being broken into will know that this is a crime that can cause lasting upset and unease.’
    • ‘This causes considerable upset and anxiety for both the guide dog and its owner.’
    • ‘It wasn't that my whole life had been filled with sadness and upset, but it hadn't been easy either.’
    • ‘If there had been any upset or distress they could have left and gone home at any point.’
    • ‘It has caused huge upset and distress to communities, deprived landowners of their property and cut people off from facilities provided at great expense from their taxes.’
    • ‘The mother of a 10-year-old boy has spoken of her shock and upset after she found out her son had been excluded from school via a text message from his headmaster.’
    • ‘This may bring along depression and anxiety as a result of the upset caused by the floods.’
    • ‘Joy said that insufficient sleep, alcohol consumption and emotional upsets can increase the severity of the symptoms.’
    • ‘However, due to the shock of the experience and the upset caused to the young boy, the pair cut their holiday short and returned home.’
    • ‘Solicitors for both told the court of their emotional upset because their lifestyle had made them failures as parents.’
    distress, trouble, perturbation, disturbance, discomposure, dismay, disquiet, worry, bother, inconvenience, agitation, fluster, alarm, fright, anger, annoyance, irritation, vexation, harassment, torment, hurt, grief
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  • 3A disturbance of a person's digestive system.

    ‘a stomach upset’
    • ‘Others reported a loss of appetite, insomnia, digestive upsets, palpitations, headaches, and muscular aches and pains.’
    • ‘Many arthritis sufferers benefit greatly from the pain relief provided by anti-inflammatory prescription drugs, but they can suffer unpleasant side effects, such as gastric irritation and stomach upsets.’
    • ‘Many stomach upsets are simply caused because our bodies are not used to exotic or spicy foods.’
    • ‘If your stomach upset lasts for longer than three days you should visit a doctor for further advice. Anti-diarrhoeal medications should be used with caution and only for a short time.’
    • ‘It is characterised by dizziness, nausea (feeling sick) and a stomach upset.’
    • ‘This could lead to side effects such as insomnia, nervousness, digestive upset and irritability.’
    • ‘Research commissioned by Yakult indicates that one in five of all adults suffered from stomach upsets, constipation or diarrhoea in the last three months.’
    • ‘Its main use has always been as an antiseptic, effective against a wide range of bacteria and fungi and used for colds, chest infections and digestive upsets.’
    • ‘As babies are susceptible to digestive upsets, always work with clean hands and use clean cooking utensils, preparation surfaces, pots and pans etc., when making home made baby food.’
    • ‘It is best to seek a medical evaluation if you are having digestive upset.’
    • ‘Digestive upsets are easily caused by emotional tension, and pessimism can be a real problem.’
    • ‘Many find that taking the drug with food reduces digestive upset.’
    • ‘There are now 41 patients suffering from the illness which causes stomach upsets and diarrhoea, a drop of six on yesterday's total.’
    • ‘Side effects are relatively uncommon and include mild stomach upset, headache, insomnia or skin rash.’
    • ‘Angina pectoris may be precipitated by; muscular exertion, violent mental states, stomach upsets, or cold weather.’
    • ‘There are possible side-effects including nausea, stomach upsets and stomach ulcers.’
    • ‘German researchers recruited 60 adults who complained of indigestion or other stomach upsets (heartburn, nausea, gas or cramps).’
    • ‘Sir Edward was being treated in Salzburg for a minor stomach upset when the pulmonary embolism was discovered.’
    • ‘High doses of vitamin B6 can cause nerve damage, while excessive amounts of vitamin D can lead to muscle weakness, stomach upsets, kidney stones and growth problems in children.’
    • ‘Mild temporary symptoms like headache and stomach upset are possible.’
    disorder, complaint, ailment, illness, sickness, disease, malady, affliction, indisposition, infirmity
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adjective

  • 1Unhappy, disappointed, or worried.

    ‘she looked pale and upset’
    • ‘And they were very clearly upset about the arrests.’
    • ‘There are many in the party who are desperately and bitterly upset about what happened to Simon Crean, so they are not happy about having to choose another leader.’
    • ‘Others were also upset about Anderson's division of the resource.’
    • ‘Manufacturers are also upset about the decline of the tradition.’
    • ‘Limpopo farmers, who have been particularly hard hit by the drought, are extremely upset about the decision.’
    • ‘I was quite upset about the article on pilots' salaries.’
    • ‘I told him I was very upset about the incident and that management should call me.’
    • ‘Everyone here is quite upset about the whole thing.’
    • ‘Dan and I were understandably upset about our fathers passing, as our mother had passed many years before.’
    • ‘I got these nasty text messages from my so-called friends and I was really upset about it.’
    • ‘She was more upset about the effect on her family than herself.’
    • ‘Her eyes were red from crying, and her brothers looked worried, yet upset and angry.’
    • ‘Oh, I never saw him upset about anything, but he got upset that day.’
    • ‘The upset father said he was not only worried about the physical injuries but also the mental trauma that would probably plague the boy for years to come.’
    • ‘At Monday's meeting Cllr Deering stated that he was ‘very upset and angered that someone would go off to the media and publicly ridicule me’.’
    • ‘Launching a staunch defence of his actions, Mr Ferris said that he and his family were deeply upset and angry at the inference made in the front-page report in the Sunday World.’
    • ‘I was upset and distraught - I had no one around who could give me some support - but very quickly I got angry and sent an email to Geoff Hoon complaining about the decision.’
    • ‘She was crying and apparently she was very upset.’
    • ‘I remember how upset she looked leaving the ballroom.’
    • ‘I am deeply upset and sorry that this happened and I hope the injured person makes a full recovery.’
    distressed, troubled, perturbed, disturbed, discomposed, unsettled, disconcerted, discountenanced, dismayed, disquieted, worried, bothered, inconvenienced, anxious, agitated, flustered, ruffled, unnerved, shaken, frightened, alarmed, angered, annoyed, irritated, vexed, irked, fretted, hurt, saddened, grieved
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  • 2(of a person's stomach) having disturbed digestion, especially because of something eaten.

    • ‘Place 1 drop of Peppermint oil in 1/2 glass of water, sip slowly to aid digestion and relieve an upset stomach.’
    • ‘The court heard Mr Stones and Miss Collins felt no ill effects but Mr Gill suffered an upset stomach and diarrhoea and headache and had to take a day off work.’
    • ‘It costs pennies, and its side effect is an upset stomach.’
    • ‘Avoid raw vegetables (like salads) and fruits (especially citrus), which are difficult for an upset stomach to digest.’
    • ‘The same goes for greasy foods, which can be difficult to digest and can cause upset stomach and heartburn.’
    • ‘Minor side effects are usually an upset stomach, nausea, and dizziness.’
    • ‘However, its side effects consist of tiredness, upset stomach, nervousness, dizziness, and difficulty concentrating.’
    • ‘There can be side effects, including headache, dizziness, heartburn and upset stomach.’
    • ‘And your family doctor is usually so busy anyway it may take more than a day to get an appointment - by which time your headache, upset stomach or dodgy back may be already on the mend.’
    • ‘‘Some antibiotics tend to upset the stomach so if you take them with food there is more of a chance you would suffer an upset stomach,’ he said.’
    • ‘A person with the condition feels full after a small meal and experiences bouts of nausea, upset stomach and bloating.’
    • ‘It seems lately just about anything I eat gives me an upset stomach.’
    • ‘Well over half of the expedition were evacuated with insect bites and upset stomachs during the four months it took to get the vehicles through.’
    • ‘Plus, having food in your belly can lower your chances of upset stomach, which vitamins can sometimes cause.’
    • ‘Travellers' tales of upset stomachs are all too common in this part of the world for those foolish enough to risk salads or the local water.’
    • ‘No one suffered serious injuries, but one of the victims did complain of a badly upset stomach for more than 24 hours.’
    • ‘The spokesman said that visitors can also be asked not to take fruit on to the ward if patients are suffering from upset stomachs.’
    • ‘It was later explained that she had been suffering from an upset stomach.’
    • ‘She said Kieran had not gone to school that day because he had an upset stomach and new braces on his teeth were hurting.’
    • ‘An upset stomach stopped him from training on Tuesday and Wednesday but he is back in action now.’
    disordered, disturbed, unsettled, queasy, bad, poorly, ill, sick
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Pronunciation

upset

/ʌpˈsɛt/ /ˈʌpsɛt/