opposite

American  

[op-uh-zit, -sit] / ˈɒp ə zɪt, -sɪt /

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.

   Synonyms:

   unlike, irreconcilable, incompatible

   Antonyms:

   like, same

3. 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.

4. Botany.

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

   2. having one organ vertically above another; superimposed.

5. adverse or inimical.

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noun

• opposites
  plural

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

2. an antonym.

3. 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.

3. to the opposite side; in the opposite direction.

   I went to the left balcony, and he went opposite.

opposite British  

/ 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

3. diametrically different in character, tendency, belief, etc

   opposite views

4. botany

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

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

5. maths

   1. (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

   2.  opp.  (of a side in a triangle) facing a specified angle

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noun

1. a person or thing that is opposite; antithesis

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

3. 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

opposite Scientific  

/ ŏp′ə-zĭt /

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

2. Compare alternate

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Synonym Usage

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 Word Forms

Derived Forms

• oppositeness
  noun
• suboppositeness
  noun
• subopposite
  adjective
• oppositely
  adverb
• suboppositely
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• opposites
  plural

Etymology

Origin of opposite

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin oppositus, past participle of oppōnere “to set against”; see oppose, -ite ²

Explanation

Opposite means “other." If you’re walking to school and realize you forgot your math homework, turn around and walk in the opposite direction to go back and get it. You say "yes," but I say "no": we're on opposite sides of the debate. Opposite can also mean "across," as in a house that’s on the opposite side of the street from yours. The word has Latin roots, from op, “in front of,” and ponere, “to put” — think about putting something up against something else. Related words are opponent, "the person you’re up against in a game," and oppose, "to disagree."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

opposite opposites

"These two tissue-resident natural killer cell populations look very similar, and they have some of the same requirements, but their function seems to be on opposite ends of the spectrum," Sunwoo said.

From Science Daily ● Aug. 25, 2026

If they do not, the opposite could happen.

From BBC ● Aug. 25, 2026

Treasury yields, which move in the opposite direction of bond prices, initially fell after the Treasury Department’s announcement last Wednesday, before moving higher later in the week.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 24, 2026

But in March, ICE and GEO Group established a new contract that says the opposite — that “applicable or more stringent state or local laws or regulations shall not apply.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 22, 2026

Leah took her place at the table, Kate sat opposite, and three of the six believers joined them.

From "American Spirits" by Barb Rosenstock

Swifties and their ideological opposites have both been Monday-morning quarterbacking last weekend’s shindig, accepting even the weirdest bad-faith gossip without question.

From Salon ● Jul. 9, 2026

Criticism and care aren’t always easy to tell apart, and disillusionment and patriotism aren’t opposites.

From The Wall Street Journal ● May 19, 2026

But their routes to success are complete opposites.

From BBC ● May 7, 2026

Lula, 80, and Trump, 79, are ideological opposites who have had a rocky relationship, and their meeting Thursday will be only their second official encounter since they held talks in Malaysia last year.

From Barron's ● May 6, 2026

They’re basically polar opposites, like magnets repelling each other.

From "The Science of Breakable Things" by Tae Keller

Related Words

• adverse
• antagonistic
• antithetical
• contradictory
• differing
• paradoxical
• reversed