What context can I use each word in?
Learn when and how to use these words with these examples!
upend
Example
He upended the bucket to empty out the water. [upended: past tense]
Example
The gymnast upended herself on the balance beam. [upend: verb]
invert
Example
She inverted the cake onto a plate. [inverted: past tense]
Example
The teacher asked the students to invert the order of the sentences in the paragraph. [invert: verb]
Good things to know
Which word is more common?
Invert is more commonly used than upend in everyday language. Invert is versatile and covers a wide range of contexts, while upend is less common and refers to a specific type of turning over.
What’s the difference in the tone of formality between upend and invert?
Invert is more formal and technical than upend, making it more appropriate for academic or professional contexts.