Upset vs You're making me very upset

When to use each in English, with meaning, register, and examples.

Upset

Top 2,000 (common)B1adjective

You're making me very upset

Top 2,000 (common)
 UpsetYou're making me very upset
Pronunciation🇬🇧 /["/ˌʌpˈset/"]/🇺🇸 /["/ˌʌpˈset/"]/🇬🇧 //jʊəˈmeɪkɪŋ miː ˈvɛri ʌpˈsɛt//🇺🇸 //jərˈmeɪkɪŋ mi ˈvɛri əpˈsɛt//
MeaningTo make someone sad or angry.You are making me feel very sad or angry.
ExampleI understand how upset you must be feeling.The news you shared is really upsetting me.
RegisterNeutralNeutral
How commonTop 2,000 (common)Top 2,000 (common)
CEFR levelB1-
Part of speechadjective
Collocationsappear, be, feel, extremely, fairly, very, about, at, withfeel upset, deeply upset, making someone upset, upset about something, upset by news
Antonymscalm, happy-
Common mistakesConfused with 'upset' as a noun and verb., Used incorrectly as an adjective without understanding the emotional context., Mixed up with 'angry,' which is often stronger.Using 'upset' as a noun incorrectly (e.g., 'I have an upset')., Saying 'you're making me upsetted', which is incorrect., Confusing 'upset' with 'angry' without noting emotional differences.
Usage notesUse 'upset' to describe feelings of sadness or anger, typically in a context that is personal or emotional. It may not be appropriate for formal writing where stronger language ('angry,' 'distressed') might be preferred.Use this phrase when someone does something upsetting. It's neutral, so it's okay to use in most situations but may seem too direct in very formal contexts.

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Upset
You're making me very upset

Frequently asked questions: Upset vs You're making me very upset

What's the difference between Upset and You're making me very upset?

Upset: To make someone sad or angry. You're making me very upset: You are making me feel very sad or angry.

Can you show an example of each?

Upset: I understand how upset you must be feeling. You're making me very upset: The news you shared is really upsetting me.

Can I use Upset and You're making me very upset interchangeably?

Not always. Upset and You're making me very upset are related and overlap in some contexts, but they differ in register, how common they are, and usage, so swapping one for another can change the meaning or tone. Check the differences above before substituting.

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