Overturn Definition & Meaning

overturn
noun
  1. the act of upsetting something; "he was badly bruised by the upset of his sled at a high speed"
  2. an improbable and unexpected victory; "the biggest upset since David beat Goliath"
verb
  1. turn from an upright or normal position; "The big vase overturned"; "The canoe tumped over"
  2. cause to overturn from an upright or normal position; "The cat knocked over the flower vase"; "the clumsy customer turned over the vase"; "he tumped over his beer"
  3. rule against; "The Republicans were overruled when the House voted on the bill"
  4. cause the downfall of; of rulers; "The Czar was overthrown"; "subvert the ruling class"
  5. cancel officially; "He revoked the ban on smoking"; "lift an embargo"; "vacate a death sentence"
  6. change radically; "E-mail revolutionized communication in academe"

Synonyms for overturn

annul verb

declare invalid; "The contract was annulled"; "void a plea" cancel officially; "He revoked the ban on smoking

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countermand noun

a contrary command cancelling or reversing a previous command cancel officially; "He revoked the ban on smoking

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lift noun

the act of giving temporary assistance the component of the aerodynamic forces acting on an airfoil that opposes

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override noun

a manually operated device to correct the operation of an automatic device the act of nullifying; making null and void

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overrule verb

rule against; "The Republicans were overruled when the House voted on the bill"

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overthrow noun

the termination of a ruler or institution (especially by force) the act of disturbing the mind or body

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repeal noun

the act of abrogating; an official or legal cancellation cancel officially; "He revoked the ban on smoking

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rescind verb

cancel officially; "He revoked the ban on smoking"; "lift an embargo"; "vacate a death sentence"

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reverse adj

directed or moving toward the rear; "a rearward glance

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revoke noun

the mistake of not following suit when able to do so fail to follow suit when able and required to do so cancel

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"Overturn" in song lyrics

See how overturn is used in real songs:

  • "As I overturn"
    Grits — Millenium
  • "When wasteful war shall statues overturn,"
    William Shakespeare — Sonnet LV

Words that rhyme with overturn

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Usage tips for "overturn"

Understanding the precise definition of a word helps you use it with confidence. When using "overturn" in your writing, consider whether you need the word itself or one of its synonyms — subtle differences in meaning can change the tone of a sentence. If you're writing poetry or song lyrics, check the rhymes for overturn to find words that pair well.

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♫ Rhymes with overturn ↔ Synonyms for overturn 🔬 Words containing overturn

Frequently asked questions

What does overturn mean?
the act of upsetting something; "he was badly bruised by the upset of his sled at a high speed" an improbable and unexpected victory; "the biggest upset since David beat Goliath" turn from an upright or normal position; "The big vase overturned"; "The canoe tumped over" cause to overturn from an upright or normal position; "The cat knocked over the flower vase"; "the clumsy customer turned over the vase"; "he tumped over his beer" rule against
What part of speech is overturn?
Overturn is a noun and a verb.
How many definitions does overturn have?
Overturn has 8 definitions across 2 parts of speech (noun, verb).

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