overturned

USAGE SUMMARY

The word 'overturned' is correct and usable in written English.
You can use it to describe a situation where something is overturned, in the literal or figurative sense. For example, "The protester was arrested after he overturned a police car in a demonstration."

✓ Grammatically correct

News & Media

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

Kammer is armed in these last attempts to save his client with new testimony from three doctors who last week overturned their previous evaluation of Hill.

The Guardian

The senators had also been made aware of the plight of the producer and, under pressure from the committee and the union, the ABC overturned the decision at the 11th hour.

The Guardian

Great sporting moments - It's hard to imagine the average FA boss storming onto the pitch during a World Cup game to get a goal overturned but that is what Kuwait FA president Prince Fahid did in 1982 against France, claiming that his players had heard a whistle and stopped playing.

The Guardian - Sport

Dunfermline's chairman, John Yorkston, said his club is considering a legal challenge, but the SPL did not believe its decision could be overturned.

The Guardian - Sport

Most of the activists I know engage in the odd nonviolent demonstration, like the protesters at Fortnum & Mason, some of whose guilty verdicts were overturned yesterday, or the people halfway up West Burton power station.

The Guardian - Opinion

There has been no shortage of surprises, from continually having my first impressions overturned, to finding myself in a succession of unexpected situations, from a tribal wedding on the islands of San Blas to a Chavista meeting in Caracas.

The Guardian - Travel

The prospect of the laws being overturned has prompted defence lawyers to seek to delay trials involving defendants who may have already spent months in solitary confinement under harsh prison conditions formerly reserved for accused bikie associates.

The Guardian

Recent advances in behavioural economics, cognitive neuroscience, network theory and social psychology more generally have overturned our common sense understanding of human behaviour.

The Guardian

It's wise to keep in mind that strong reactions from the likes of NBC and CNN legal analysts about the sudden likelihood that the healthcare law will be overturned could be exaggerated, expressing more of a visceral reaction that things simply didn't go as smoothly as they'd been expecting for two years.

The Guardian

Sean Hodgson was freed by the court of appeal in March after it overturned his conviction for raping and killing gas board clerk Teresa de Simone in 1979.

The Guardian

So it was just going back and running a programme that started getting people to think about looking at ground sign – looking at branches that have been snapped, twigs that have been moved, stones that have been overturned because they are a different colour underneath than they are on the top, depressions in the ground.

The Guardian

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "overturned" when referring to the reversal of a legal decision, a political outcome, or a commonly held belief. It suggests a significant change in status or perception.

Common error

Avoid using "overturned" to describe simply the physical act of something toppling over. While technically correct, more descriptive words like "tipped", "toppled", or "knocked over" might be more appropriate in that context.

Linguistic Context

The primary grammatical function of "overturned" is as the past participle or past tense form of the verb "overturn". It is used to describe an action where something has been reversed or annulled. Ludwig AI confirms its correctness and usability.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

News & Media

90%

Formal & Business

5%

Science

3%

Less common in

Encyclopedias

1%

Wiki

0.5%

Reference

0.5%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

The word "overturned" functions primarily as a verb, signifying the reversal or annulment of something, typically a decision or established order. Ludwig AI confirms its validity for use in written English. As evidenced by a substantial number of examples from news and media sources, "overturned" is a commonly used term to convey significant changes, especially in legal or political contexts. While generally neutral in register, its specific usage and implications should be carefully considered to ensure accuracy and appropriateness. Alternative phrases like "reversed", "repealed", and "revoked" can be used depending on the specific nuance needed.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

reversed

Indicates a change to the opposite direction or course of action.

repealed

Refers specifically to the annulment of a law or regulation.

revoked

Signifies the official cancellation of a decree, permit, or privilege.

rescinded

Implies the cancellation or withdrawal of an agreement or order.

annulled

Denotes the declaration of something as invalid, especially a marriage or law.

invalidated

Highlights the act of making something null or without legal force.

voided

Emphasizes the nullification of a contract or agreement.

quashed

Suggests the suppression or rejection of something, such as an indictment.

abrogated

Implies the formal repeal or abolition of a law or right.

set aside

Means to reject or overrule a previous decision or judgment.

FAQs

How is "overturned" typically used in legal contexts?

In legal contexts, "overturned" usually means that a higher court has reversed the decision of a lower court. For example, "The Supreme Court "overturned" the lower court's ruling."

What are some synonyms for "overturned" that I can use in my writing?

Depending on the context, you can use synonyms such as "reversed", "repealed", "revoked", or "rescinded". Each carries slightly different nuances.

Is it correct to use "overturned" in a non-literal sense?

Yes, "overturned" can be used figuratively to describe a significant change or reversal. For example, "New evidence "overturned" previous assumptions about the case."

What's the difference between "overturned" and "rejected"?

"Overturned" implies a reversal of something already established, like a decision or conviction. "Rejected", on the other hand, means something was not accepted in the first place. For example, a proposal might be rejected, while a conviction can be "overturned".