Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English homepage

Date: 1700-1800
Origin: Probably from upset 'to set up, raise' (15-17 centuries)

upset

2 verb
     
up‧set2 S2 past tense and past participle upset, present participle upsetting [transitive]
1

make somebody unhappy

to make someone feel unhappy or worried:
Don't do anything that would upset him.
2

change something

to change a plan or situation in a way that causes problems:
The chemicals upset the balance of the environment.
3

make something fall

to push something over without intending to:
He upset a bowl of soup.
4

defeat

to defeat an opponent who is considered to be much better than you:
Jones upset the 40th-ranked American, Cunningham.
5

upset the apple cart

informal to completely spoil someone's plans
—upsetting adjective
Definition from the Longman Dictionary of Contemporary English
Advanced Learner's Dictionary.

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