ENGLISH
REFERENCE

upsetting

v.
B1 Intermediate US //əpˈsɛtɪŋ// UK //ʌpsˈɛtɪŋ// up·set·ting

v. making you feel unhappy, worried, or angry.

v. causing emotional distress, agitation, or unhappiness. Often describes a situation, event, or piece of news rather than a person's internal state.


SIMPLE

It was a very upsetting experience for everyone involved.

CONTEXTUAL

The news of the factory closure was deeply upsetting to the local community who relied on those jobs.

COMPLEX

While the initial report was upsetting, the subsequent investigation revealed that the damage was far less extensive than first feared, allowing the family to find some peace.

Synonyms
Usage

Commonly modified by degree adverbs like 'very', 'deeply', or 'extremely'.

Pitfall

I am very upsetting about the newsI am very upset about the newsLearners often use the -ing form to describe their own feelings; 'upsetting' describes the cause, while 'upset' describes the person's feeling.

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