opposite

[ op-uh-zit, -sit ]
See synonyms for: oppositeoppositesoppositelyoppositeness on Thesaurus.com

adjective
  1. situated, placed, or lying face to face with something else or each other, or in corresponding positions with relation to an intervening line, space, or thing: opposite ends of a room.

  2. contrary or radically different in some respect common to both, as in nature, qualities, direction, result, or significance; opposed: opposite sides in a controversy;opposite directions.

  1. being the other of two related or corresponding things: Most of my family lives on the opposite coast, so I only see them a few times a year.

  2. Botany.

    • situated on diametrically opposed sides of an axis, as leaves when there are two on one node.

    • having one organ vertically above another; superimposed.

  3. adverse or inimical.

noun
  1. a person or thing that is opposite or contrary.

  2. an antonym.

  1. Archaic. an opponent; antagonist.

preposition
  1. across from; facing: The guest of honor sat opposite me at the banquet.

  2. in a role parallel or complementary to: He has played opposite many leading ladies.

adverb
  1. on opposite sides.

  2. on the opposite side: I was at one end and she sat opposite.

  1. to the opposite side; in the opposite direction: I went to the left balcony, and he went opposite.

Origin of opposite

1
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin oppositus, past participle of oppōnere “to set against”; see oppose, -ite2

synonym study For opposite

2. Opposite, contrary, reverse imply that two things differ from each other in such a way as to indicate a definite kind of relationship. Opposite suggests symmetrical antithesis in position, action, or character: opposite ends of a pole, sides of a road, views. Contrary sometimes adds to opposite the idea of conflict or antagonism: contrary statements, beliefs. Reverse suggests something that faces or moves in the opposite direction: the reverse side of a coin; a reverse gear.

Other words for opposite

Opposites for opposite

Other words from opposite

  • op·po·site·ly, adverb
  • op·po·site·ness, noun
  • sub·op·po·site, adjective
  • sub·op·po·site·ly, adverb
  • sub·op·po·site·ness, noun

Words Nearby opposite

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024

How to use opposite in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for opposite

opposite

/ (ˈɒpəzɪt, -sɪt) /


adjective
  1. situated or being on the other side or at each side of something between: their houses were at opposite ends of the street

  2. facing or going in contrary directions: opposite ways

  1. diametrically different in character, tendency, belief, etc: opposite views

  2. botany

    • (of leaves, flowers, etc) arranged in pairs on either side of the stem

    • (of parts of a flower) arranged opposite the middle of another part

  3. maths

    • (of two vertices or sides in an even-sided polygon) separated by the same number of vertices or sides in both a clockwise and anticlockwise direction

    • (of a side in a triangle) facing a specified angle: Abbreviation: opp

noun
  1. a person or thing that is opposite; antithesis

  2. maths the side facing a specified angle in a right-angled triangle

  1. a rare word for opponent

preposition
  1. Also: opposite to facing; corresponding to (something on the other side of a division): the house opposite ours

  2. as a co-star with: she played opposite Olivier in ``Hamlet''

adverb
  1. on opposite sides: she lives opposite

Derived forms of opposite

  • oppositely, adverb
  • oppositeness, noun

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Scientific definitions for opposite

opposite

[ ŏpə-zĭt ]


  1. Arranged as one of a pair on either side of a stem or twig. Maple and ash trees have opposite leaves. Compare alternate.

The American Heritage® Science Dictionary Copyright © 2011. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.