to overturn
Third Person
overturns
Present Participle
overturning
Past Tense
overturned
Past Participle
overturned
1
to cause the downfall or removal of rulers or leaders
transitive
- The citizens, discontent with the ruler's policies, organized protests to overturn the government.
- Over time, internal dissent and external pressures can overturn oppressive regimes.
- The military coup successfully overturned the existing leadership, prompting political instability.
- Economic crises can contribute to social unrest and may eventually overturn those in power.
- The uprising aimed to overturn the autocratic ruler and establish a more democratic system.
Synonyms:
2
to change the position of something in a way that the top of it goes to its bottom or to turns it on its side
transitive
- The strong wind overturned the boat, sending everyone into the water.
- He accidentally overturned the glass of water while reaching for his phone.
- The children overturned their toys in excitement while playing.
- He reached out too quickly and overturned the stack of books on the table.
- The protesters managed to overturn the barricade in their effort to block the road.
3
to flip or turn something upside down
- The car overturned after the driver lost control on the slippery road.
- The boat overturned in the storm, throwing everyone into the water.
- The dumpster overturned in the wind, scattering trash everywhere.
- The tractor overturned in the field, causing a serious injury to the driver.
- The small plane overturned after making an emergency landing in a field.
4
to reverse, abolish, or invalidate something, especially a legal decision
transitive
- The Supreme Court decided to overturn the lower court's ruling, citing a procedural error.
- The appeal was successful, and the judge agreed to overturn the jury's verdict.
- The new evidence presented in the case may lead to a decision to overturn the conviction.
- The committee voted to overturn the previous policy, sparking controversy among members.
- The athlete's suspension was overturned after a thorough review of the doping test results.
5
to cancel or annul a previous decision, law, or situation formally or authoritatively
transitive
- The Supreme Court's ruling could potentially overturn decades of legal precedent.
- The decision to overturn the law sparked widespread protests across the country.
- The judge decided to overturn the lower court's ruling, granting the defendant a new trial.
- Activists fought for years to overturn the discriminatory law.
- The new government promised to overturn the policies of the previous administration.