Morphemes in “upset”
“upset” has 2 morphemes: up- + set.
up
prefix
+
set
root
Spelling changes when the parts join: the boxes show the letters as written; the morphemes themselves are up- + set.
Each morpheme explained
| Morpheme | Type | Free / bound | Meaning |
|---|---|---|---|
| up- | derivational prefix | bound | upward; newer (particle used as a prefix) |
| set | free root | free | (usually followed by `to' or `for') on the point of or strongly disposed |
How the word is built
set → upset
Each step adds one affix to the word before it; the root “set” is where the chain starts.
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Segmentation derived from MorphyNet (Batsuren, Bella & Giunchiglia, 2021; CC BY-SA 3.0, built from Wiktionary), with hand-written affix glosses and root meanings from WordNet. Reviewed for classroom use; tell us if you spot an error.
Frequently Asked Questions
How many morphemes are in "upset"?
"upset" has two morphemes: up- + set.
How do you break "upset" into morphemes?
up- + set. The root is "set"; up- is a derivational prefix.
What is the root word of "upset"?
The root of "upset" is "set", built up as set → upset.
Is this morphology tool free?
Yes. The Fixie morphological analyzer is free with no signup and runs in your browser.