overturn
/ˌəʊvə(ɹ)ˈtɜː(ɹ)n/
Word Rarity
Rare
Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.22 in modern English
11
Scrabble Score
8
Letters
3
Syllables
7
Unique Chars
Meaning
verb
To diminish the significance of a previous defeat by winning; to make a comeback from.
Transitive verb
verb
To undergo a limnic eruption, where dissolved gas suddenly erupts from the depths.
Intransitive verb
noun
A turning over or upside-down; inversion.
noun
The overturning or overthrow of some institution or state of affairs; ruin.
Example Sentences
- "About three or four minutes later still an express freight on the up main line ran into the wreckage at about 35 m.p.h. Its engine also overturned and 15 more wagons were added to the mounting pile of wreckage."
- "We also found that the only emergency egress from the tram was by smashing the front or rear windscreens, and that emergency lighting had failed when the tram overturned."
- "In a report for the Sun on Sunday, Barak claimed that Andrew is consulting lawyers about overturning that settlement."
- "Harvey was rightfully convicted. It’s unfortunate that the court has overturned his conviction. As a survivor, I am beyond disappointed."
- "Villa spent most of the second period probing from wide areas and had a succession of corners but despite their profligacy they will be glad to overturn the 6-0 hammering they suffered at St James' Park in August following former boss Martin O'Neill's departure"
- "There were so many heroes for Leicester on an evening when they played with tremendous courage and belief to overturn the 2-1 deficit from the first leg, yet it was hard to look beyond Kasper Schmeichel for the game’s outstanding performer."
Etymology
From Middle English overturnen, equivalent to over- + turn. Compare also Middle English overterven (“to overturn”), see terve.