overturn

overturn — verb

1. to turn onto one side or upside down, or to make something do this

1.動詞及物 / 不及物B2
釋義

to turn onto one side or upside down, or to make something do this

例句

The fishing boat overturned in rough water near Green Island.

intransitive: boat overturns

A sudden turn overturned the cart and spilled oranges onto the road.

transitive: overturn + cart

同義詞
  • tip over

    more common in everyday speech for something falling onto its side

  • capsize

    used mainly for boats turning over in water

  • upset

    more formal or report-like for causing a vehicle or container to turn over

反義詞
  • upright

    describes staying in the normal standing position

  • steady

    suggests not moving or falling over

文法句型

vehicle/boat/table overturn

overturn + cart/boat/table

用法筆記

Often used with vehicles, boats, tables, or boxes. In the intransitive pattern, the thing that flips is the subject; in the transitive pattern, a person, movement, or force causes the change.

常見錯誤

❌The bus overturned over on the bridge.
✅The bus overturned on the bridge.
💡the verb already includes the idea of turning over.
❌The wind overturned down the sign.
✅The wind overturned the sign.
💡use a direct object without 'down'.

2. to officially cancel a law, judgment, or decision after deciding it was wrong

2.動詞及物C1
釋義

to officially cancel a law, judgment, or decision after deciding it was wrong

例句

The top court overturned the ban after a two-day hearing.

common object: ban or ruling

Last June, judges overturned his murder conviction on appeal.

pattern: overturn a conviction

同義詞
  • reverse

    a broad word for changing an earlier decision or judgment

  • overrule

    very close, often used when a higher authority rejects another decision

  • revoke

    focuses on officially taking back a law, right, or decision

  • strike down

    common for courts declaring a law or rule invalid

反義詞
  • uphold

    to keep a ruling, law, or decision in force

  • confirm

    to say officially that a decision remains correct

文法句型

overturn a conviction

overturn a law

overturn a ruling

be overturned on appeal

用法筆記

The object is usually a ruling, conviction, law, ban, or official decision. The subject is often a court, judge, or other authority. Distinguish from sense 1, which is physical, and sense 3, which is specific to election results.

常見錯誤

❌The court overturned about the ban.
✅The court overturned the ban.
💡this sense takes the decision itself as the direct object.
❌The ruling overturned by the court.
✅The ruling was overturned by the court.
💡use the passive verb with 'was' when the ruling is the subject.

3. to defeat a party or candidate in an election by wiping out the lead they had be

3.動詞及物C2
釋義

to defeat a party or candidate in an election by wiping out the lead they had before

例句

Labour overturned a 6,000-vote majority in the riverside seat.

pattern: overturn a majority

After years of local anger, Maya overturned the minister's safe lead.

同義詞
  • defeat

    the broad everyday word for winning against a person or party

  • unseat

    focuses on removing a politician from office by beating them

  • oust

    stronger and more forceful, often used in political news

反義詞
  • hold

    to keep a seat or majority in an election

  • retain

    to continue to have the same seat or lead

文法句型

overturn a majority

overturn a lead

overturn a safe seat

用法筆記

Chiefly used in British election reporting. The object is usually a majority, lead, or seat rather than the whole election itself.

常見錯誤

❌The party overturned the election in Leeds.
✅The party overturned the minister's majority in Leeds.
💡this sense usually names the majority, lead, or seat that was lost.

overturn — noun