overturn

overturn — verb

1. to turn onto one side or upside down, or to make something do this

1.verbtransitive / intransitiveB2
Definition

to turn onto one side or upside down, or to make something do this

Example

The fishing boat overturned in rough water near Green Island.

intransitive: boat overturns

A sudden turn overturned the cart and spilled oranges onto the road.

transitive: overturn + cart

Common collocations
  • overturn a boat
  • overturn a cart
  • overturn a table
  • overturn in rough water
Synonyms
  • tip over

    more common in everyday speech for something falling onto its side

  • capsize

    used mainly for boats turning over in water

  • upset

    more formal or report-like for causing a vehicle or container to turn over

Antonyms
  • upright

    describes staying in the normal standing position

  • steady

    suggests not moving or falling over

Grammar Patterns

vehicle/boat/table overturn

overturn + cart/boat/table

Usage Note

Often used with vehicles, boats, tables, or boxes. In the intransitive pattern, the thing that flips is the subject; in the transitive pattern, a person, movement, or force causes the change.

Common Mistakes

The bus overturned over on the bridge.
The bus overturned on the bridge.
the verb already includes the idea of turning over.
The wind overturned down the sign.
The wind overturned the sign.
use a direct object without 'down'.

2. to officially cancel a law, judgment, or decision after deciding it was wrong

2.verbtransitiveC1
Definition

to officially cancel a law, judgment, or decision after deciding it was wrong

Example

The top court overturned the ban after a two-day hearing.

common object: ban or ruling

Last June, judges overturned his murder conviction on appeal.

pattern: overturn a conviction

Common collocations
  • overturn a conviction
  • overturn a ruling
  • overturn a ban
  • overturn a law
  • be overturned on appeal
Synonyms
  • reverse

    a broad word for changing an earlier decision or judgment

  • overrule

    very close, often used when a higher authority rejects another decision

  • revoke

    focuses on officially taking back a law, right, or decision

  • strike down

    common for courts declaring a law or rule invalid

Antonyms
  • uphold

    to keep a ruling, law, or decision in force

  • confirm

    to say officially that a decision remains correct

Grammar Patterns

overturn a conviction

overturn a law

overturn a ruling

be overturned on appeal

Usage Note

The object is usually a ruling, conviction, law, ban, or official decision. The subject is often a court, judge, or other authority. Distinguish from sense 1, which is physical, and sense 3, which is specific to election results.

Common Mistakes

The court overturned about the ban.
The court overturned the ban.
this sense takes the decision itself as the direct object.
The ruling overturned by the court.
The ruling was overturned by the court.
use the passive verb with 'was' when the ruling is the subject.

3. to defeat a party or candidate in an election by wiping out the lead they had be

3.verbtransitiveC2
Definition

to defeat a party or candidate in an election by wiping out the lead they had before

Example

Labour overturned a 6,000-vote majority in the riverside seat.

pattern: overturn a majority

After years of local anger, Maya overturned the minister's safe lead.

Common collocations
  • overturn a majority
  • overturn a lead
  • overturn a safe seat
  • overturn three majorities
Synonyms
  • defeat

    the broad everyday word for winning against a person or party

  • unseat

    focuses on removing a politician from office by beating them

  • oust

    stronger and more forceful, often used in political news

Antonyms
  • hold

    to keep a seat or majority in an election

  • retain

    to continue to have the same seat or lead

Grammar Patterns

overturn a majority

overturn a lead

overturn a safe seat

Usage Note

Chiefly used in British election reporting. The object is usually a majority, lead, or seat rather than the whole election itself.

Common Mistakes

The party overturned the election in Leeds.
The party overturned the minister's majority in Leeds.
this sense usually names the majority, lead, or seat that was lost.

overturn — noun

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/2

For legal and official decisions, overturn means making an earlier ruling, law, or conviction no longer valid. Reverse is broader and can be used for many decisions, not only legal ones. Overrule is very close, but it often stresses a higher person or body rejecting another person's decision. Revoke is common when a right, licence, or official act is formally taken back. Strike down is especially common when a court says that a law or rule cannot stand. Compare: The appeal court overturned the conviction. The manager reversed yesterday's plan. The judge overruled the objection. The city revoked his licence. The court struck down the ban.

overturn ↗reverse ↗overrulerevokestrike down ↗

Etymology

Old EnglishEnglish

Overturn was formed in English from over and turn. Both parts are old native English words. The earliest idea was physical turning, especially moving something from its normal position onto its side or upside down. Later, that image of flipping something completely was extended to official decisions and then to election results.