overturn Meaning, Definition & Usage

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

WordNet

O`ver*turn" transitive verb
Wordforms
imperfect & past participle Overturned ; present participle & verbal noun Overturning
Definitions
  1. To turn or throw from a basis, foundation, or position; to overset; as, to overturn a carriage or a building.
  2. To subvert; to destroy; to overthrow.
  3. To overpower; to conquer. Milton. Syn. -- To demolish; overthrow. See Demolish.
O"ver*turn` noun
Definitions
  1. The act off overturning, or the state of being overturned or subverted; overthrow; as, an overturn of parties.

Webster 1913