upturn

American  

[uhp-turn, uhp-turn, uhp-turn] / ʌpˈtɜrn, ˈʌpˌtɜrn, ˈʌpˌtɜrn /

verb (used with object)

1. to turn up or over.

   The farmer upturned clumps of sod with his spade.

2. to cause disorder; upheave.

   The storm upturned the town.

3. to direct or turn upward.

   She upturned her face toward heaven and prayed.

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verb (used without object)

1. to turn up or upward.

   Her eyes upturned to see his face.

noun

1. chaos or extreme disorder, as in society; an upheaval.

2. an upward turn, or a changing and rising movement, as in prices or business.

upturn British  

verb

1. to turn or cause to turn up, over, or upside down

2. (tr) to create disorder

3. (tr) to direct upwards

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noun

1. an upward turn, trend, or improvement

2. an upheaval or commotion

Etymology

Origin of upturn

1300–50; Middle English: to overturn; up-, turn

Example Sentences

“Although there are individual areas, such as the defense sector, that are developing very dynamically, this is not enough to trigger a broad upturn in industry,” Dirk Schumacher, chief economist at KfW, said.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 9, 2026

Southeast Asia markets including the Philippines, Indonesia and Thailand joined the upturn too.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

But that isn’t leading to a corresponding upturn for AI chip makers like Nvidia.

From Barron's • Feb. 4, 2026

Edward Clarke from planning consultants Lichfields said no-one should expect an upturn in housing yet as it can take years to go from planning to delivery.

From BBC • Jan. 29, 2026

She smiled at me, but her eyes didn’t crinkle with the upturn of her lips.

From "Amal Unbound" by Aisha Saeed

Related Words

• recovery
• upswing