something opposite or contrary.
Logic.
a proposition obtained from another proposition by conversion.
the relation between two terms, one of which is related to the other in a given manner, as “younger than” to “older than.”
a group of words correlative with a preceding group but having a significant pair of terms interchanged, as “hot in winter but cold in summer” and “cold in winter but hot in summer.”
to engage in conversation (with)
to commune spiritually (with)
obsolete
to associate; consort
to have sexual intercourse
conversation (often in the phrase hold converse with )
obsolete
fellowship or acquaintance
sexual intercourse
something that is opposite or contrary
logic
a categorical proposition obtained from another by the transposition of subject and predicate, as no bad man is bald from no bald man is bad
a proposition so derived, possibly by weakening a universal proposition to the corresponding particular, as some socialists are rich from all rich men are socialists
logic maths a relation that holds between two relata only when a given relation holds between them in reverse order: thus father of is the converse of son of
See speak.
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English conversen, from Middle French converser, from Latin conversārī “to associate with”; see con-, verse
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English convers, from Anglo-French or directly from Latin conversus, past participle of convertere “to turn around,” equivalent to con- “with, together” + vert- “to turn” + -tus past participle suffix; cf. convert 1
Converse is a more formal way of saying "carry on a conversation." You could converse with your best friend for hours over lunch, but continue the chit-chat through the afternoon matinee and you might get shushed. Oddly enough, converse was originally a verb meaning “to move about, live or dwell” when it first came into existence in the mid 14th century. But today we only use converse to talk about, well, talking. Quipped the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche, “When marrying, one should ask oneself this question: Do you believe that you will be able to converse well with this woman into your old age?” A good question for marrying men and women!
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Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
A lot of the time, these folks converse like they’re at a Nantucket board of health meeting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 23, 2026
A Reddit-like pseudo social network for OpenClaw agents called Moltbook, where chatbots converse, has also grabbed headlines and provoked soul-searching over AI.
From Barron's ● Mar. 30, 2026
In a converse way, Kay and Down’s reluctance to be so clean, so shiny and so heteronormative with their characters is just as forward-thinking as any media that conjures a conventional picture of equality.
From Salon ● Mar. 1, 2026
"I was like a little old man. I used to speak like a grown-up. I wore three-piece suits and couldn't converse with other children," the 37-year-old says.
From BBC ● Dec. 27, 2025
I returning in my old white shirt, with my oznabrig and breeches in my hand, I found the two of them engaged in lively converse.
From "The Astonishing Life of Octavian Nothing, Traitor to the Nation, Volume II: The Kingdom on the Waves" by M.T. Anderson
It has made progress in some areas—including its running, wholesale and North American businesses—but has hit hurdles in China, as well as with its Converse brand and sportswear offerings.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
However, Alex did have to wear her Converse trainers across before changing into her wedding shoes, and gave strict instructions for friends and family.
From BBC ● Apr. 23, 2026
Nike also said it would be streamlining work at its Air Manufacturing Innovation facilities in Beaverton, Ore., St. Louis and Vietnam, and relocating some manufacturing related to its Converse sneaker brand.
From MarketWatch ● Apr. 23, 2026
Converse brand revenue fell 30% from a year ago, also weighing on topline growth.
From Barron's ● Dec. 18, 2025
And, just like today, she was wearing bright red Converse low-tops with her scrubs, which seemed kind of cool.
From "Popcorn" by Rob Harrell
But Domingo, who converses with Kościuszko in English, is also a bit of an anachronism.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 28, 2026
Subconsciously hearing the words of Shakespeare, Wednesday’s mind travels to a spooky dream state where she converses with a spirit guide and is then told to “wake up,” which she does.
From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2025
In its relative orderliness and palatability, “Yes and Yes” is not really a danced analogy to the book, but something else, complex in its own ways, true to Roche’s voice as she converses with another.
From New York Times ● May 5, 2023
She merits her own chapters, all in italics, during which she converses with those hallucinations.
From Seattle Times ● Nov. 9, 2022
He occasionally converses about the circus with his fellow pub dwellers.
From "The Night Circus" by Erin Morgenstern
In one unit, students conversed with ChatGPT role-playing the attendees of an 1816 dinner party where Mary Shelley hatched the idea for “Frankenstein,” and then discussed the experience in class.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 1, 2026
After play readings last fall that launched the theater, cast members and theatergoers mingled and conversed on the patio outside the building.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 31, 2025
The four last defendants - including one woman - are people with whom Anzorov conversed on Snapchat and Twitter and who allegedly offered him encouragement.
From BBC ● Nov. 4, 2024
Instead she toured the clinic and conversed with healthcare providers and patients who were interested in speaking with her.
From Salon ● Mar. 14, 2024
They rarely conversed with each other apart from the necessities of their service and practices.
From "Siddhartha" by Hermann Hesse
Before her departure, Keyser appeared in the first 20 minutes of Thursday's episode, conversing with one of the male contestants before appearing briefly in two further non-speaking scenes.
From BBC ● Jun. 26, 2026
AI is the first invention humans have made that can simulate the process of thinking and conversing.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 4, 2026
Kickback Committee features more than a dozen soccer personalities conversing with fans on topics and trends; First Touch, the company’s World Cup property, is designed to attract new fans with original material.
From Los Angeles Times ● Mar. 3, 2026
“Sentimental Value’s” final shot, which similarly shows Nora and Gustav conversing, neatly tied together the movie’s themes of family, fiction and forgiveness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Feb. 17, 2026
They squat by the passenger's side, conversing in low tones.
From "How the García Girls Lost Their Accents" by Julia Alvarez
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
