upheavalup‧heav‧al /ʌpˈhiːvəl/ ●○○ noun [countable, uncountable] 
political upheaval Moving house is a major upheaval.
WORD ORIGINupheaval
Origin:
1800-1900 heaveEXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- Changing jobs can be an exciting challenge, but it can also be a time of great emotional upheaval.
- Moving to a different school can be a big upheaval for young children.
- The company managed to survive the economic upheavals of the last 20 years.
- And upheaval has definitely reached North County.
- And yet, in the last ten years, what upheavals there have been.
- He hadn't realised pregnancy was such a dislocating experience, or even that getting married itself would cause such an upheaval.
- Still another possibility is that the United States is heading into an era of political upheaval and reform.
- The upheavals of the era tended to come together, one kind of revolution easily attaching itself to another.
Longman Language Activatorwhen things change
· There have been so many changes around here lately that I'm not sure what's happening any more.· A lot of people are frightened of change.change in · There was a sudden change in the weather.· House plants are often sensitive to changes in temperature.· The delay was the result of a change in the way that we administer the grants.social/economic/political etc change · 1989 was a year of great political change in eastern Europe.big change/major change · There have been big changes in the way languages are taught in schools.a change for the better/worse · For most ordinary workers, the new tax laws represent a change for the worse.
a change in something, especially one that has happened gradually or naturally: · The relationship between the United States and China has altered in recent years.alteration in: · She noticed the alteration in his looks and manner.· Max walked past her, without acknowledging her presence by the slightest alteration in his expression.
also turnround British a complete change from a bad economic situation to a good one, or a change from failing to succeeding: · BRITCON's turnround has been achieved by drastic reductions in manpower.· The team's dramatic turnaround is attributed to their new coach Bill Snyder.turnaround in: · The expected turnaround in the beer industry has, for various reasons, not yet occurred.
a big change in your life or in the way things are organized, especially when this causes problems and anxiety: · Moving to a different school can be a big upheaval for young children.political/social/economic etc upheaval: · The company managed to survive the economic upheavals of the last 20 years.emotional upheaval: · Changing jobs can be an exciting challenge, but it can also be a time of great emotional upheaval.
a complete change in the way of doing things or thinking, because of new ideas or methods: · They argue that our schools are failing our children, and that the education system needs a revolution.revolution in: · Einstein's General Theory of Relativity started a revolution in scientific thinking.scientific/technological/social etc revolution: · The 1970s saw the beginnings of a new technological revolution, based on microelectronics.
a complete change in something or someone, especially so that there is a great improvement: transformation of: · The transformation of the Inner Harbor included new office buildings, and a marketplace of small shops and food stalls.transformation from something to something: · Her friends and neighbors watched her transformation from shy local girl to famous movie actress.transformation in: · The last great overall transformation in American business took place between 1890 and 1910, when the modern corporation was forged.transformation into: · Today, spruced-up Times Square is in the midst of a surprising transformation into a family-oriented entertainment center. undergo a transformation: · It is rare for a person to undergo a dramatic transformation in his political thinking, but it does happen.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY Moving house is a major upheaval.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADJECTIVE
a very big change that often causes problems: Moving house is a major upheaval.· Worse, as Greenberg notes, much is beyond its control, notably the risk of political or economic upheaval.· The social and economic upheavals which stemmed from the war were profound.
· Yet nausea and bone-weariness were mere pinpricks compared to the emotional upheaval she was going through.· Even amid so much emotional and physical upheaval, however, Maxwell made himself a better player.· Others suffer a whole range of emotional upheavals which worry them.· At this time of emotional upheaval, the accepted roles soothe anxiety.· It was clearly a time of emotional upheaval, as revealed by a number of uncomfortable disclosures.
· Modern social work is still a new profession, despite the great upheavals of the past 20 years.
· This may entail a major upheaval, but it will be more than compensated for later this month.· Catherine Crane had joined the division three months ago, creating a major upheaval.· It is manifest that they were too weak and uninfluential to produce such a major upheaval by their own efforts.· This pattern continued relatively undisturbed until 1959, when a short period of major upheaval began.
· Worse, as Greenberg notes, much is beyond its control, notably the risk of political or economic upheaval.· At the same time, however, Pozarevac has not been immune from the political upheavals sweeping the rest of the country.· Yet it is by no means certain that the next political upheaval will take place on the streets.· Still another possibility is that the United States is heading into an era of political upheaval and reform.· Ossyane's self-effacing voice fashions an intimate history from political upheaval.· The Board has had to weather its own political upheavals and adjust to changing circumstances.· Other instruments have survived despite all manner of political and social upheavals.
· Within the revolutionary upheaval envisaged, relations between town and countryside are disrupted.· There will be no lack of revolutionary upheavals.· Such a pattern of attitudes is what one might expect from people suddenly drawn into politics by a revolutionary upheaval.
· Urban economic and political development suffered severely from the social and demographic upheaval set in train during Ivan IV's reign.· The negative attitudes lurk undetected till a social upheaval forces them to the surface.· The decade following the Crimean War saw the most dramatic social and institutional upheaval that the Empire had ever undergone.· Now, however, a series of social upheavals since 1970 have wrought changes in the consciousness of the people.· For her the romantic triangle may be a microcosm of deracination and social upheaval.· Other instruments have survived despite all manner of political and social upheavals.· The social and economic upheavals which stemmed from the war were profound.· Before 1905 was out the spectre of social upheaval thus enabled the Tsar's government to regain the initiative.
VERB· He hadn't realised pregnancy was such a dislocating experience, or even that getting married itself would cause such an upheaval.· This is hardly surprising given that pregnancy causes the biggest hormonal upheaval your body has experienced since puberty.
political upheaval Moving house is a major upheaval.