Word
upheaval
Phoneticsup·heaval
US/əpˈhivəɫ/
UK/ʌphˈiːvəl/
Countable & uncountable
Definition
n. a big, sudden change that causes a lot of trouble or confusion. It often happens in a society, a government, or someone's personal life.
n. a violent or sudden change or disruption to something. Often refers to social, political, or personal instability.
Examples
“The sudden move caused a lot of upheaval in the family.”
“The country experienced massive political upheaval after the unexpected results of the national election.”
“Economic historians often point to the industrial revolution as a period of unprecedented social upheaval that permanently altered the relationship between labor and capital.”
Examples
simple
“The sudden move caused a lot of upheaval in the family.”
contextual
“The country experienced massive political upheaval after the unexpected results of the national election.”
complex
“Economic historians often point to the industrial revolution as a period of unprecedented social upheaval that permanently altered the relationship between labor and capital.”
Usage
Both uncountable for the general state of chaos and countable when referring to a specific event.
Real-World Examples
“Many of those bursts lined up with major climate shifts, suggesting that environmental upheaval can reshape life in powerful ways.” “Satellite data suggest the surge is already weakening, raising the possibility that the deep-Earth upheaval is part of a mysterious natural cycle.” Etymology
From upheave + -al.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Occasional
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
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englishreference.com/q/upheaval