overturn

Compared meaning: to officially cancel a law or decision (verb).

比较义项：正式撤销法律、决定或授权（动词）。

• overturn 本词

  Used mainly for reversing a court ruling, verdict, or official decision, often by a higher authority; implies replacing it with the opposite outcome.

  主要用于推翻法院的裁决、判决或官方决定，通常由更高一级的权威做出；意味着以相反的结果取而代之。

  The appeals court overturned the jury's guilty verdict on a technicality.

  上诉法院以程序问题为由推翻了陪审团的有罪裁决。

• repeal

  Used specifically for laws, acts, or legislation; the action is taken by a legislature or lawmaking body to formally end the law's effect.

  专门用于法律、法案或立法；该行为由立法机构或议会实施，以正式终止该法律的效力。

  Congress voted to repeal the outdated tax law last year.

  国会去年投票废除了那项过时的税法。

• revoke

  Used for withdrawing something officially granted, such as a license, permit, visa, or citizenship, taking back a right previously given.

  用于收回官方授予的事物，例如执照、许可证、签证或公民身份，即收回此前给予的权利。

  The airline revoked her frequent-flyer status for abusive behavior.

  由于行为不当，航空公司取消了她的常旅客身份。

• rescind

  A formal word for cancelling a decision, offer, contract, or order, often because circumstances changed; treats it as if it never took effect.

  较为正式的用语，指撤销决定、提议、合同或命令，通常因情况发生变化；使其如同从未生效一般。

  The university had to rescind its acceptance letter due to a paperwork error.

  由于文件出现错误，大学不得不撤销了那份录取通知书。

Overturn, repeal, revoke, and rescind all mean to officially cancel something. Overturn reverses a court ruling. Repeal cancels a law. Revoke withdraws something granted, like a license or visa. Rescind cancels a decision, offer, or contract. Not covered: revoke's card-game sense, failing to follow suit.

这四个词都表示正式撤销某项法律、决定或授权，但语气和搭配不同：overturn 常用于推翻法院裁决；repeal 专指立法机构废除法律；revoke 指收回已授予的执照、签证等权利；rescind 语气较正式，指撤销决定、提议或合同。这里不比较 revoke 在纸牌游戏中表示「藏牌」（未按规定跟牌）的义项。

Compared meaning: to knock something over or turn it upside down (verb).

比较义项：把某物打翻／推翻、使其倒扣或颠倒（动词）。

• upset

  Informal and everyday; used for small or moderate objects knocked over often by accident, e.g. a cup or a bucket; rarely used for abstract things like decisions.

  较为口语、日常；多用于不小心碰翻的小件或中等大小的物品，例如杯子或水桶；很少用于抽象事物（如决定）。

  The cat jumped onto the table and upset a vase of flowers.

  那只猫跳上桌子，打翻了一瓶花。

• overturn 本词

  More formal; used for larger or heavier objects turned upside down with force, and also extends to abstract things like rulings or decisions.

  语气更正式；多用于较大或较重的物体被用力弄得颠倒，也可引申用于判决、决定等抽象事物。

  Protesters tried to overturn the police car during the riot.

  抗议者在骚乱中试图把那辆警车掀翻。

Upset and overturn both mean to knock something over. Upset is everyday, for small objects knocked over by accident, like a cup. Overturn is formal, for larger objects turned over with force, or for things like a ruling. Not covered: upset meaning to worry someone.

两词都指把某物弄得翻倒或颠倒，但 upset 多指日常小物件被不小心碰翻，程度较轻、较随意；overturn 语气更正式，常用于较大、较重的物体被用力弄翻，也可指抽象事物（如判决、决定）被推翻。这里不比较 upset 的“使心烦、使不安”这一常见义项。