upturn

1 of 2

verb

up·​turn ˈəp-ˌtərn How to pronounce upturn (audio)
ˌəp-ˈtərn
upturned; upturning; upturns
Synonyms of upturnnext

transitive verb

1
: to turn up or over
upturned a trash can
2
: to direct upward
upturned faces

intransitive verb

: to turn upward

upturn

2 of 2

noun

up·​turn ˈəp-ˌtərn How to pronounce upturn (audio)
: an upward turn especially toward better conditions or higher prices
an upturn in sales

Synonyms of upturn

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Verb

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Examples of upturn in a Sentence

Verb at this point the road upturns steeply, the trees become scarcer, and the valley unfolds before you
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Verb
Queen Macbeth offered the chance to upturn the potent myth in Shakespeare’s play. — Literary Hub, 27 Jan. 2026 The outage highlights how extensive people's reliance on technology has become and how an error based on something as trivial as a calendar date can upturn entire businesses and disrupt people's day. — Scharon Harding, WIRED, 1 Mar. 2024
Noun
Three structural elements differentiate the present landscape from previous upturns. — Trefis Team, Forbes.com, 14 May 2026 Domestic sales and government largesse are driving the upturn, but activity is still affected by supply chain disruptions and businesses deferring spending. — Dominic Dudley, semafor.com, 6 May 2026 See All Example Sentences for upturn

Word History

First Known Use

Verb

1567, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1864, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of upturn was in 1567

Rhymes for upturn

See All Rhymes for upturn

Browse Nearby Words

uptrend
upturn
up-twister
See all Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Upturn.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/upturn. Accessed 7 Jul. 2026.

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Kids Definition

upturn

1 of 2 verb
up·​turn ˈəp-ˌtərn How to pronounce upturn (audio)
ˌəp-ˈtərn
1
: to turn up or over
an upturned boat
2
: to turn or direct upward
upturned faces

upturn

2 of 2 noun
up·​turn ˈəp-ˌtərn How to pronounce upturn (audio)
: an upward turning (as toward better conditions or higher prices)

More from Merriam-Webster on upturn

Nglish: Translation of upturn for Spanish Speakers

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