upheaval
/ʌpˈhiːvl/ (bre, ipa) · [əphˈivəl] /ʌpˈhiːvl/ (ame, ipa) · [əphˈivəl] /ˌəp-ˈhē-vəl How to pronounce upheaval (audio) (ˌ)ə-ˈpē-/ (ame, mw)
upheaval — noun
- upheavalsingular
- upheavalsplural
1. A period of sudden, disruptive change that shakes up a society, organisation, or
A period of sudden, disruptive change that shakes up a society, organisation, or person's life.
The sudden death of the CEO caused upheaval throughout the company.
collocation: upheaval throughout [place/organisation]
Gita's family faced years of upheaval after the civil war broke out.
collocation: years of upheaval
The merger led to massive upheaval and hundreds of staff were laid off.
Political upheaval in the capital forced Ziad and his neighbours to flee.
For many workers, the new factory rules brought upheaval to daily routines.
- disruption
more neutral; does not always imply the emotional or social cost that upheaval carries
- turmoil
emphasises confusion and anxiety more than structural change
- chaos
stronger; suggests complete disorder with no sense of eventual resolution
用法筆記
Can be used as both countable (an upheaval, upheavals) and uncountable (a period of upheaval). Typically describes large-scale or long-lasting disruption rather than minor, temporary disturbances.