overturn

/'ouvətə:n/
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Definition

  1. Verb (Transitive):

    • To cause to turn over; to tip or turn something so that its bottom or side becomes the top: This refers to physically making an object fall or flip onto its side or upside down.
    • To invalidate, reverse, or annul a legal decision, ruling, or system: This refers to officially canceling or reversing a previous judgment, law, or established order.
    • To defeat and remove from power; to bring about the downfall of a government or ruler: This refers to overthrowing a regime or authority.

  2. Verb (Intransitive):

    • To turn over; to capsize or fall over: This refers to an object or vessel turning onto its side or upside down by itself.

  3. Noun:

    • The act or instance of overturning; an upset or reversal: This refers to the event of something being turned over or a dramatic change, especially an unexpected defeat or the reversal of a legal decision.
Usage Examples
  • Verb (Transitive - Physical Action):
    • The strong wind overturned the small boat.
    • A careless driver overturned his truck on the icy road.
  • Verb (Transitive - Legal/Judicial Action):
    • The Supreme Court overturned the lower court's ruling.
    • The new law could overturn decades of established policy.
  • Verb (Transitive - Political Action):
    • The rebels sought to overturn the corrupt government.
  • Verb (Intransitive):
    • The car skidded and overturned.
    • The canoe overturned in the rapids.
  • Noun:
    • The election result was a stunning overturn of the political establishment.
    • The legal overturn of the precedent set a new standard.
Advanced Usage
  • "to overturn a conviction": to officially reverse a guilty verdict in a court of law.
    • New DNA evidence led the court to overturn the conviction.
  • "to overturn the apple cart": (idiomatic) to disrupt plans or a stable situation.
    • His sudden resignation really overturned the apple cart for the project.
Variants and Related Words
  • Upset (noun/verb): Can be a synonym for an unexpected defeat or to knock something over. (e.g., ; )
  • Overthrow (verb/noun): Specifically refers to removing a ruler or government from power by force. (e.g., )
  • Reverse (verb): A more general term for changing a decision, direction, or position to its opposite. (e.g., )
  • Revoke (verb): To officially cancel or annul a decree, license, or privilege. (e.g., )
Synonyms
  • Tip over (for physical action)
  • Cap-size (for boats)
  • Annul (for legal decisions)
  • Nullify (for legal decisions)
  • Topple (for governments)
Related Phrasal Verbs

(Note: "Overturn" itself is not commonly used in phrasal verb constructions. The actions are typically expressed by the single verb or synonyms like "turn over.")

Related Idioms
  • Turn the tables: To reverse a situation to gain an advantage over someone who previously had an advantage over you. This is conceptually similar to "overturn" in a competitive or situational context.
    • After losing the first set, she turned the tables and won the match.
Noun
  1. an improbable and unexpected victory
    • the biggest upset since David beat Goliath
  2. the act of upsetting something
    • he was badly bruised by the upset of his sled at a high speed
Verb
  1. change radically
    • E-mail revolutionized communication in academe
  2. cancel officially
    • He revoked the ban on smoking
    • lift an embargo
    • vacate a death sentence
  3. cause the downfall of; of rulers
    • The Czar was overthrown
    • subvert the ruling class
  4. rule against
    • The Republicans were overruled when the House voted on the bill
  5. 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
  6. turn from an upright or normal position
    • The big vase overturned
    • The canoe tumped over

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