upset

Upset is a multi-use term that can function as a noun, verb, or adjective. It denotes disturbance, distress, or disruption in various domains, including emotions, physical condition, and events. The sense of the word varies by context, but common threads include surprise, disruption, and discomfort.

As a noun, upset can refer to a state of emotional distress (for example, feeling upset) or a physical condition such as a stomach upset. In sports and competitions, an upset describes an unexpected result in which a lower-ranked or underdog competitor defeats a favored opponent.

As a verb, upset means to disturb, distress, or overturn something. It can describe causing someone to feel upset or to disrupt plans, balance, or arrangements. For example, one might say the news upset the team or that a change would upset the schedule.

As an adjective, upset describes something that causes distress or disturbance or describes a person who is emotionally unsettled. The phrase upset stomach is a common collocation referring to gastrointestinal discomfort, while an upset person is someone experiencing emotional disturbance. The term can also modify abstract concepts, as in upset the balance or upset expectations.

Etymology traces upset to up- plus set, originally conveying the idea of overturning or knocking something over, with later extensions to disturbance of feelings, plans, or stability. In contemporary usage, upset frequently appears in sports journalism to denote surprising outcomes, and in medicine and everyday speech to describe distress or discomfort.