Upset vs. Upsetted — Which is Correct Spelling?
By Tayyaba Rehman — Updated on March 19, 2024
"Upset" is the correct spelling, which can describe being unhappy or overturned, whereas "upsetted" is an incorrect form. Proper spelling is crucial for effective communication.
Table of Contents
Which is correct: Upset or Upsetted
How to spell Upset?
Upset
Correct Spelling
Upsetted
Incorrect Spelling
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Key Differences
Recall “upset” by associating it with the common expression “Don’t get upset.”
Create a memory link by thinking about setting something upright after it’s been "upset" or turned over, remembering no extra ‘t’ is required.
To prevent the addition of an extra 't', remember that "upset" is already a complete word on its own.
The word "set" is a part of "upset"; both are spelled without additional 't's.
Think of a phrase like "The upset fan left" and visualize it.
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How Do You Spell Upsetted Correctly?
Incorrect: He was very upsetted when he lost his favorite toy.
Correct: He was very upset when he lost his favorite toy.
Incorrect: My stomach was upsetted after eating too much candy.
Correct: My stomach was upset after eating too much candy.
Incorrect: She upsetted her friend by not inviting her to the party.
Correct: She upset her friend by not inviting her to the party.
Incorrect: I am upsetted that I cannot go to the concert.
Correct: I am upset that I cannot go to the concert.
Incorrect: The bad news upsetted him greatly.
Correct: The bad news upset him greatly.
Upset Definitions
Upset is also used to denote a surprise result in sports.
The underdog team created an upset.
Upset refers to causing disruption in a state or condition.
The news upset our plans.
Upset can also imply making someone physically unwell.
Eating fast can upset your stomach.
To cause to overturn; knock or tip over
Upset the flowerpot.
To disturb the functioning, order, or course of
Protesters upset the meeting by chanting and shouting.
To cause (the stomach) to feel ill.
To distress or perturb mentally or emotionally
The bad news upset me.
(ŭpsĕt′) To defeat unexpectedly (an opponent favored to win).
To make (a heated metal bolt, for example) shorter and thicker by hammering on the end.
The act of upsetting or the condition of being upset
The upset of the vase.
A disturbance, disorder, or state of agitation
An upset of my routine.
A condition of indigestion
A remedy for stomach upset.
A game, contest, or election in which the favorite is defeated.
A tool used for upsetting; a swage.
An upset part or piece.
Having been overturned
An upset vase.
Exhibiting signs and symptoms of indigestion
An upset stomach.
In a state of emotional or mental distress; distraught
Upset parents.
(of a person) Angry, distressed, or unhappy.
He was upset when she refused his friendship.
My children often get upset with their classmates.
(of a stomach or gastrointestinal tract, referred to as stomach) Feeling unwell, nauseated, or ready to vomit.
His stomach was upset, so he didn't want to move.
(uncountable) disturbance or disruption.
My late arrival caused the professor considerable upset.
An unexpected victory of a competitor or candidate that was not favored to win.
(automobile insurance) An overturn.
"collision and upset": impact with another object or an overturn for whatever reason.
An upset stomach.
(mathematics) An upper set; a subset (X,≤) of a partially ordered set with the property that, if x is in U and x≤y, then y is in U.
(aviation) The dangerous situation where the flight attitude or airspeed of an aircraft is outside the designed bounds of operation, possibly resulting in loss of control.
(transitive) To make (a person) angry, distressed, or unhappy.
I’m sure the bad news will upset him, but he needs to know.
(transitive) To disturb, disrupt or adversely alter (something).
Introducing a foreign species can upset the ecological balance.
The fatty meat upset his stomach.
(transitive) To tip or overturn (something).
(transitive) To defeat unexpectedly.
Truman upset Dewey in the 1948 US presidential election.
(intransitive) To be upset or knocked over.
The carriage upset when the horse bolted.
(obsolete) To set up; to put upright.
To thicken and shorten, as a heated piece of iron, by hammering on the end.
To shorten (a tire) in the process of resetting, originally by cutting it and hammering on the ends.
To set up; to put upright.
To overturn, overthrow, or overset; as, to upset a carriage; to upset an argument.
To disturb the self-possession of; to disorder the nerves of; to make ill; as, the fright upset her.
To turn upwards the outer ends of (stakes) so as to make a foundation for the side of a basket or the like; also, to form (the side) in this manner.
To become upset.
Set up; fixed; determined; - used chiefly or only in the phrase upset price; that is, the price fixed upon as the minimum for property offered in a public sale, or, in an auction, the price at which property is set up or started by the auctioneer, and the lowest price at which it will be sold.
After a solemn pause, Mr. Glossin offered the upset price for the lands and barony of Ellangowan.
The act of upsetting, or the state of being upset; an overturn; as, the wagon had an upset.
An unhappy and worried mental state;
There was too much anger and disturbance
She didn't realize the upset she caused me
The act of disturbing the mind or body;
His carelessness could have caused an ecological upset
She was unprepared for this sudden overthrow of their normal way of living
Condition in which there is a disturbance of normal functioning;
The doctor prescribed some medicine for the disorder
Everyone gets stomach upsets from time to time
A tool used to thicken or spread (the end of a bar or a rivet etc.) by forging or hammering or swaging
The act of upsetting something;
He was badly bruised by the upset of his sled at a high speed
An improbable and unexpected victory;
The biggest upset since David beat Goliath
Disturb the balance or stability of;
The hostile talks upset the peaceful relations between the two countries
Cause to lose one's composure
Move deeply;
This book upset me
A troubling thought
Cause to overturn from an upright or normal position;
The cat knocked over the flower vase
The clumsy customer turned over the vase
He tumped over his beer
Form metals with a swage
Defeat suddenly and unexpectedly;
The foreign team upset the local team
Afflicted with or marked by anxious uneasiness or trouble or grief;
Too upset to say anything
Spent many disquieted moments
Distressed about her son's leaving home
Lapsed into disturbed sleep
Worried parents
A worried frown
One last worried check of the sleeping children
Thrown into a state of disarray or confusion;
Troops fleeing in broken ranks
A confused mass of papers on the desk
The small disordered room
With everything so upset
Used of an unexpected defeat of a team favored to win;
The Bills' upset victory over the Houston Oilers
Mildly physically distressed;
An upset stomach
Having been turned so that the bottom is no longer the bottom;
An overturned car
The upset pitcher of milk
Sat on an upturned bucket
Upset can mean to overturn or capsize something.
She upset the bowl of soup.
Upset can describe someone being distressed or agitated.
He was upset by the news.
Upset Meaning in a Sentence
The movie's ending was so sad that it made me feel upset.
Losing the game upset the whole team.
He was upset that his vacation had to be canceled.
My friend was upset when she found out the concert was postponed.
It's easy to get upset over small things when you're tired.
My sister was upset because she lost her favorite doll.
When I couldn't find my book, I was really upset.
She was upset with her friend for telling her secret.
The loud noises outside made the dog upset.
Getting a bad grade can make anyone feel upset.
She was upset because she had to go to bed early.
The baby gets upset whenever he drops his toy.
I feel upset whenever I remember that day.
The broken toy made the little boy upset.
She didn't mean to, but her words made me upset.
The thought of moving to a new school made him upset.
The coach was upset with the team's performance.
Missing the movie made her really upset.
I get upset when I can't solve a math problem.
Being blamed for something I didn't do makes me upset.
My parents were upset because I came home late.
He was so upset that he couldn't eat his dinner.
My mom was upset when she saw the mess in the kitchen.
I was upset when my team lost the championship.
Common Curiosities
Why is it called upset?
The term "upset" comes from the combination of “up” and “set” suggesting something being set or turned upwards or in disarray.
What is the root word of upset?
"Set" with a directional prefix "up-."
What is the verb form of upset?
Upset.
What is the pronunciation of upset?
/ʌpˈsɛt/
Is upset an adverb?
No, upset is not an adverb.
What is the plural form of upset?
Upsets (when used as a noun).
Which vowel is used before upset?
Either "a" or "an" can precede upset based on context.
Which article is used with upset?
"An" or "the" can be used with upset based on context.
Is upset an abstract noun?
Upset can be considered an abstract noun when describing a state of being.
Is the upset term a metaphor?
No, but it can be used metaphorically.
Is the word upset imperative?
It can be, e.g., “Do not upset the vase!”
How do we divide upset into syllables?
Up-set.
What is the singular form of upset?
Upset.
Which preposition is used with upset?
"About" as in "upset about something."
Which conjunction is used with upset?
No specific conjunction is used with upset.
Is upset a collective noun?
No, upset is not a collective noun.
Is upset a vowel or consonant?
Upset is a word, not a vowel or consonant.
Is the word upset a Gerund?
No, but “upsetting” is.
Is the word “upset” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
It can be a direct object, e.g., “She did not want to upset anyone.”
What is the second form of upset?
Upset.
What is the third form of upset?
Upset.
How is upset used in a sentence?
“The sudden change in plans really upset her.”
Is upset a noun or adjective?
Upset can be a noun, verb, or adjective.
How many syllables are in upset?
Two.
What is a stressed syllable in upset?
The second syllable (-set) is stressed.
What is the opposite of upset?
Calm or soothe, depending on the context.
Which determiner is used with upset?
Any determiner like "this," "that," "an," or "the" can be used based on context.
Is upset a negative or positive word?
Generally, upset is considered a negative word.
Is upset a countable noun?
Yes, in contexts like “there were many upsets in the tournament.”
What part of speech is upset?
Upset can be a noun, verb, or adjective.
What is another term for upset?
Disturbed.
What is the first form of upset?
Upset.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
