capsize

/ˈkæpsaɪz/

//ˈkæpsaɪz// verb

By · According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA) ·

"capsize" is a 7-letter English headword indexed on PlainSpell.

The verdict

“capsize” is uncommon English (frequency #64,246 among 5,599 “C” headwords), classed as a verb. The kind of spelling people second-guess.

#64,246
frequency rank, English
5,599
“C” headwords

According to Wiktionary data (CC BY-SA, analyzed September 3, 2026) - To overturn.

Corpus desk

Index EN-capsize · capsize · English

capsize · rank #64,246 · 0 variants · 0 confusables

  • FREQ-RARE #64,246
  • LEN-LONG 7 letters
  • VOW-3 3 vowels
  • CONFUS-0 No pairs
  • VAR-0 0 variants
  • BOOK-DENSE 5,599
  • PHOTO-FINISH Carnes

Nearest frequency peer: Carnes (+1 rank slots)

Read with this headword: Spelling guide for this pattern

Desk codes from Wiktionary headword shape, FrequencyWords rank tier, confusable-pair count, generated misspelling depth, letter-cohort book size, and photo-finish peer. Not a difficulty grade.

Long-tail ranks near “capsize”

Sparse band: bars invert rank so rarer forms read shorter

corpus weight

What this shows Long-tail view: where “capsize” sits against similarly uncommon English ranks.

Source FrequencyWords open word-frequency list As of September 3, 2026
Key facts for capsize
PropertyValue
Headwordcapsize
LanguageEnglish
Part of speechVerb
IPA/ˈkæpsaɪz/
Letters7
Frequency rank#64,246
Misspellings tracked0
Confusable pairs0
SourceWiktionary (kaikki.org)

Long-tail rank of “capsize” in English

Word frequency stretches from the small set of words we reach for constantly (left) out to the long tail barely used once in a while (right).capsizefalls in this rarity band:

#1#100#1K#10K#100K
← used constantlyrarely used →

Ticks step logarithmically, so each one marks a roughly tenfold drop in how often the word turns up. Rare peers in the same band: “Carnes” (#64,247), “cassation” (#64,248), “castrate” (#64,250). Among 5,599 “C” headwords, “capsize” is #64,246. Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list.

Rare enough to double-check

capsize is uncommon English at frequency #64,246 among 5,599 “C” headwords, classed as averb, transcribed /ˈkæpsaɪz/. Rarity is why readers land here mid-draft. 3 senses are on record.

capsize has no tracked misspelling variants, since its letter sequence doesn't invite the usual edit-distance slips. This headword has no recorded confusable partner, suggesting its spelling stands apart enough that readers rarely confuse it with something else.

Etymologically, the entry records: Attested since 1788. Origin unknown. Possibly related to Spanish chapuzar (“to sink by the head”). The correct English form is capsize, spelled C-A-P-S-I-Z-E.

Definition

  1. 1
    To overturn.
  2. 2
    To cause (a ship) to overturn.
  3. 3
    To deform under stress.

Recorded use

Wiktionary examples

These source excerpts show how capsize appears in context. They illustrate usage; the definition above remains the entry’s reference meaning.

  1. Baby, I think I'm capsizing / The waves are rising and rising
  2. But what if carrying sail capsize the boat?

Etymology

Attested since 1788. Origin unknown. Possibly related to Spanish chapuzar (“to sink by the head”).

This word in other languages

zozobrar(Español)chavirer(Français)kentern(Deutsch)soçobrar(Português)

Definitions, pronunciation, and etymology for this entry are drawn from Wiktionary via the kaikki.org structured extract (CC BY-SA); frequency ordering uses the FrequencyWords open word-frequency list (2018 English corpus, MIT). See the methodology for how each field is sourced and updated.

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you spell "capsize"?
"capsize" is spelled C-A-P-S-I-Z-E. The IPA pronunciation is /ˈkæpsaɪz/.
What does "capsize" mean?
As a verb, "capsize" means: To overturn.
How do you pronounce "capsize"?
The IPA (International Phonetic Alphabet) transcription for "capsize" is /ˈkæpsaɪz/. Click the speaker icon on the pronunciation badge above to hear it spoken aloud where audio is available.
What is the origin of the word "capsize"?
Attested since 1788. Origin unknown. Possibly related to Spanish chapuzar (“to sink by the head”). See the full etymology section above for more details.
Is PlainSpell free to use?
Yes, PlainSpell is a completely free word reference. You can look up definitions, pronunciations, confusable pairs, homophones, and spelling corrections across 5 languages without any sign-up or subscription.

Similar English words by spelling shape

Same letter count and similar misspelling depth for "capsize", not the corpus desk frequency band.

Same letter count

Frequency-ranked English headwords with 7 letters (nearest by frequency rank).

Burford#64,237Buckman#64,235brights#64,230Branagh#64,226

Source: Wiktionary (via kaikki.org) Structured Wiktionary extract

Source: FrequencyWords open word-frequency list