English Reference
adjective · noun

upsetting

adj. · n.
US /əpˈsɛtɪŋ/ UK /ʌpsˈɛtɪŋ/ up·set·ting

  1. 01 B1 Intermediate

    adj.making you feel sad, worried, or angry.

    adj.causing emotional distress, agitation, or unhappiness.

    Simple

    It was very upsetting to see the damage the storm caused to the garden.

    In context

    The witness provided an upsetting account of the accident, detailing the events with a level of clarity that visibly moved the jury.

    Pitfall
    I am very upsetting about the news. The news is very upsetting.

    Use 'upsetting' to describe the thing that causes the feeling. Use 'upset' to describe how you feel.

  2. 02 C2 Proficiency Formal

    n.the act of making something messy or out of order.

    n.the act of overturning, disarranging, or disturbing a settled state or physical position.

    Simple

    The sudden upsetting of the old government led to months of confusion.

    In context

    The sudden upsetting of the ecological balance in the lake resulted in a rapid decline of native fish species over the following decade.

This entry
Level B1 · Intermediate
Frequency Frequent
Updated