capsize
C1Formal, Technical, Literary
Definition
Meaning
To overturn or cause to overturn in water (typically a boat or ship).
Can metaphorically describe any sudden, complete failure or reversal, especially of plans or systems.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Primarily intransitive for the event happening, but can be used transitively when an agent causes it. Often implies a sudden, unintentional, and often disastrous event.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No major differences in core meaning or usage. Both varieties use it primarily for nautical contexts.
Connotations
Identical; conveys disaster, loss of control, and potential danger.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in British English due to greater maritime tradition and reporting, but the word is standard in both.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
The boat capsized (intransitive).The wave capsized the boat (transitive).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “The ship has capsized (meaning: a plan has failed completely and irrecoverably).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Metaphorical: 'The merger talks capsized after the scandal was revealed.'
Academic
Rare, except in historical or engineering contexts discussing maritime accidents.
Everyday
Used when discussing news of boating accidents or personal experiences on the water.
Technical
Standard term in maritime safety, naval architecture, and accident reports.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The rowing boat capsized in the choppy Solent.
- A sudden squall could capsize a yacht easily.
American English
- The fishing vessel capsized off the coast of Alaska.
- He nearly capsized the canoe when he stood up.
adverb
British English
- N/A - 'capsize' is not used as an adverb.
American English
- N/A - 'capsize' is not used as an adverb.
adjective
British English
- The capsized hull was visible at low tide.
- They righted the capsized dinghy.
American English
- Rescuers searched near the capsized ferry.
- The capsized sailboat was a hazard to navigation.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The little boat capsized.
- Be careful not to capsize!
- The strong wind caused the small sailboat to capsize.
- After it capsized, the swimmers held onto the hull.
- The ferry capsized in the storm, leading to a major rescue operation.
- Their strategy capsized when the key investor pulled out.
- Investigators concluded that improper loading was the primary factor that caused the vessel to capsize.
- The political scandal effectively capsized the administration's legislative agenda for the remainder of the term.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a boat's CAP falling off and SIZing up the water as it turns over. CAP-SIZE.
Conceptual Metaphor
FAILURE IS A BOAT OVERTURNING (e.g., 'Their project capsized due to poor management.')
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'опрокидываться' for all contexts; reserved for vessels in water. Not a general synonym for 'to fall'.
- Avoid confusing with 'перевернуться', which is more general for turning over.
Common Mistakes
- Using it for cars or objects on land (use 'overturn' or 'flip over').
- Using the past tense as 'capsized' correctly, but sometimes misspelled as 'capsizeed'.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the verb 'capsize' MOST appropriately used?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Its primary and literal meaning is for boats/ships on water. It can be used metaphorically for plans or situations that fail suddenly and completely.
A vessel capsizes (turns over) but may not necessarily sink (go below the water's surface). However, capsizing often leads to sinking.
It is standard English but has a technical and slightly formal register. In everyday talk about small boats, people might say 'tip over' or 'flip' instead.
Yes, the noun is 'capsizing', as in 'The capsizing of the ship was tragic.'