Upset Meaning and Definition
Upset
Pronunciation
/əpˈsɛt/
Part of Speech
Noun
Definition
A feeling of distress, discomfort, or unhappiness, often accompanied by a physical response such as a lump in the throat or a knot in the stomach.
Examples
- The news of the natural disaster left many people upset.
- She felt upset after the argument with her friend.
Synonyms
- Distraught
- Disheartened
- Agitated
Antonyms
- Elated
- Ecstatic
- Triumphant
Etymology
The word “upset” comes from the Old English words “up” and “set”, meaning “overturned” or “disturbed”.
Usage Notes
The word “upset” can be used to describe a wide range of emotional responses, from mild annoyance to intense distress.
Cultural References
The phrase “upset stomach” is a common idiom used to describe a range of physical discomforts.
Idiomatic Expressions or Phrases
Examples include “upset stomach”, “upset feelings”, and “upset the apple cart”.
Related Words or Phrases
- Zest
- Agitation
- Distress
Collocations
- In an upset state
- Feeling upset
- Displaying upset
Frequency of Use
The word “upset” is commonly used in everyday language, with an estimated frequency of 1.2 per million words.
Common Misspellings
Examples include “upsit”, “upsette”, and “upsetted”.