overturn
B2Formal and Neutral. Common in legal, political, and news contexts; also used in general description.
Definition
Meaning
to turn something upside down or onto its side; to officially decide that a previous legal decision, rule, or result is wrong or invalid and change it.
to cause a major change, defeat, or end to a system, government, or belief.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Contains a physical sense (literally tipping over) and a metaphorical/legal sense (reversing a decision). The latter is more common in formal/academic use.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
No significant differences in meaning or usage. Minor spelling preference: UK English may use the hyphenated form 'over-turn' less commonly than US English, but both overwhelmingly use 'overturn'.
Connotations
Identical in both dialects. Connotes decisive, often authoritative or dramatic, change or reversal.
Frequency
Slightly more frequent in American English, particularly in news media covering Supreme Court decisions.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
overturn [OBJ] (e.g., overturn a ruling)overturn [OBJ] on [GROUNDS] (e.g., overturn a verdict on a technicality)[AGENT] overturn (e.g., The Supreme Court overturned...)[OBJ] be overturned (Passive voice is extremely common)Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Overturn the apple cart (less common, means to disrupt plans or cause trouble)”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
The board voted to overturn the previous CEO's strategic plan.
Academic
The new evidence could overturn long-held theories about the cause of the event.
Everyday
Be careful not to overturn that glass of water.
Technical
The high centre of gravity made the vehicle prone to overturn during sharp turns.
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- The Court of Appeal may overturn the conviction.
- The lorry overturned on the motorway near Leeds.
- They hope to overturn the council's planning decision.
American English
- The Supreme Court overturned the lower court's ruling.
- The kayak overturned in the rapids.
- Activists are fighting to overturn the law.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The cat overturned the bowl of milk.
- The strong wind overturned the garden chair.
- The court overturned the old law.
- The bus overturned in the accident, but no one was seriously hurt.
- The opposition party pledged to overturn the controversial policy if elected.
- The appeal succeeded in overturning the original verdict on a procedural technicality.
- The groundbreaking research has the potential to overturn decades of accepted scientific dogma.
- A two-thirds majority in parliament is required to overturn the presidential veto.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Imagine a judge using a giant hand to literally TURN a gavel OVER, symbolising the reversal of a decision.
Conceptual Metaphor
CHANGE IS PHYSICAL ROTATION / AUTHORITY IS PHYSICAL FORCE. Legal and systemic changes are conceptualised as physically flipping an object.
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Avoid direct calque from 'переворачивать' for legal contexts. Use 'отменять (решение)', 'аннулировать'.
- For 'overturn a government', use 'свергать', not 'переворачивать'.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'overturn' for simple changes or updates (e.g., 'They overturned the software' is wrong). It implies a definitive reversal.
- Confusing 'overturn' with 'overthrow' – 'overthrow' is almost exclusively for governments/leaders, while 'overturn' is broader.
Practice
Quiz
In which context is the use of 'overturn' LEAST appropriate?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No. While a very common and important use is legal (overturn a ruling), it also has a literal physical meaning (to tip over) and is used metaphorically in politics, science, and business (overturn a policy/theory/plan).
They are close synonyms in legal contexts. 'Overrule' is often used when a higher authority (like an appeals court) rejects a lower court's decision during an ongoing case. 'Overturn' is broader and can refer to the final result of an appeal or the invalidation of any established rule or law.
Yes, but primarily in its physical sense. E.g., 'The car overturned on the icy road.' In its legal/metaphorical sense, it is almost always transitive (needs an object).
The past tense and past participle is 'overturned' (regular verb). Example: 'The verdict was overturned yesterday.'