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