The word "upheaval" is spelled with five letters and two syllables. Its IPA phonetic transcription is /ʌpˈhiːvəl/. The first syllable, "up," is pronounced with a short 'uh' sound, followed by a stressed long 'ee' sound. The second syllable, "heaval," starts with a short 'e' sound followed by a short 'uh' sound and then a stressed long 'a' sound. The word refers to a sudden and drastic change or disruption, often in a social or political context.
Upheaval is a noun that refers to a significant and often violent or intense disturbance, change, or disruption. It describes a turbulent or tumultuous event that upsets the usual order or pattern, often causing a state of chaos or disarray. This term is often used to describe radical societal, political, and economic transformations, but it can also refer to personal or emotional upheavals.
In a broader sense, upheaval denotes the process or result of a fundamental shift or transformation, marked by a sudden or forceful upheaval of established norms, traditions, or beliefs. It embodies the idea of a sudden and dramatic disruption that causes a profound and lasting impact on a system, organization, community, or individual.
For example, a political upheaval could involve dramatic changes in a government system, such as a revolution or a coup d'état, resulting in the overthrow of a regime and potentially leading to social unrest. Economic upheaval might involve a severe financial crisis, leading to a collapse in markets, widespread unemployment, and economic hardship for many individuals and businesses.
On a personal level, upheaval might refer to extreme turbulence or significant life changes, such as a divorce, loss of a loved one, or a major career shift. It suggests a disruption or disturbance that has lasting effects on an individual's life, often requiring adjustment and adaptation.
In geol., a lifting up of strata by some expansive or elevating power from below.
Etymological and pronouncing dictionary of the English language. By Stormonth, James, Phelp, P. H. Published 1874.
* The statistics data for these misspellings percentages are collected from over 15,411,110 spell check sessions on www.spellchecker.net from Jan 2010 - Jun 2012.
The word "upheaval" originated from the combination of two English words: "up" and "heave".
The term "heave" comes from the Old English word "hebban", which means "to lift" or "to raise". Over time, "heave" evolved to mean "to throw" or "to move forcefully".
The prefix "up" simply denotes movement in an upward direction. When combined with "heave", it forms the word "upheave", which originally meant to lift forcefully or raise up.
Eventually, "upheave" went through a process called "back-formation", where the prefix "up-" was seen as redundant, resulting in the word "heave" on its own.