Finesentence logo

Upheaval: meaning, definitions and examples

🌋
Add to dictionary

upheaval

 

[ ˌʌpˈhiːvəl ]

Noun
Context #1 | Noun

political

A violent or sudden change or disruption to something, especially a society or political system.

Synonyms

chaos, disruption, revolution, turmoil

Examples of usage

  • The country experienced a period of upheaval after the revolution.
  • The company went through a period of upheaval following the change in leadership.
Context #2 | Noun

emotional

A state of confusion or disorder in someone's emotions or thoughts.

Synonyms

agitation, disarray, disturbance, turmoil

Examples of usage

  • After the breakup, she felt a sense of upheaval in her life.
  • The sudden loss of her job caused upheaval in her emotions.
Context #3 | Noun

geological

A sudden violent disturbance or movement within the earth's crust.

Synonyms

earthquake, seismic disturbance, tectonic shift

Examples of usage

  • The earthquake caused a massive upheaval in the region.
  • The volcanic eruption led to significant upheaval in the landscape.

Translations

Translations of the word "upheaval" in other languages:

🇵🇹 convulsão

🇮🇳 उथल-पुथल

🇩🇪 Umbruch

🇮🇩 kekacauan

🇺🇦 переворот

🇵🇱 wstrząs

🇯🇵 激変 (gekihen)

🇫🇷 bouleversement

🇪🇸 convulsión

🇹🇷 kargaşa

🇰🇷 격변 (gyeokbyeon)

🇸🇦 اضطراب

🇨🇿 převrat

🇸🇰 prevrat

🇨🇳 剧变 (jùbiàn)

🇸🇮 pretres

🇮🇸 ómæling

🇰🇿 төңкеріс

🇬🇪 გადატრიალება

🇦🇿 çevriliş

🇲🇽 convulsión

Etymology

The word 'upheaval' originated in the early 19th century, derived from the combination of 'up' and 'heave'. It initially referred to the act of heaving up, but later evolved to represent sudden and violent changes or disruptions. The term has been widely used in various contexts, including politics, emotions, and geology, to describe significant disturbances or movements.

See also: heaving.

Word Frequency Rank

At position #14,802, this word is part of sophisticated English vocabulary. It's useful for academic or professional contexts where precise language is needed.