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

What jumps out is that although both managers have started from opposite tactical viewpoints, there are clear similarities in both their tournament runs – much to Tuchel's frustration.

From BBC ● Jul. 16, 2026

Because at the same moment, on the same screens, a truck company is selling the opposite.

From Salon ● Jul. 15, 2026

Although these observations seem to point in opposite directions, a new study suggests they could share the same underlying explanation.

From Science Daily ● Jul. 14, 2026

No girl should be forced to change in front of a boy or share such intimate spaces with the opposite sex.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 14, 2026

“I thought the opposite of that was the last five minutes of math class, when the teacher’s going on and on and on about decimals,” she said.

From "Found" by Margaret Peterson Haddix

James Seymour, an Irish tourist, told AFP the scene from the lookout point was one of "polar opposites."

From Barron's ● Jul. 2, 2026

The more we talked, the more we realized that our shortcomings, which made us look like exact opposites, came from the same root.

From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 19, 2026

The pair are seen by many as polar opposites.

From BBC ● Jun. 5, 2026

When it comes to commanding the screen, though, Ms. Coel is not in the same league as Mr. McKellen, which means the intended balance of opposites doesn’t quite pan out.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 9, 2026

These may look like opposites, but they aren’t; both mean “combustible.”

From "Woe Is I" by Patricia T. O'Conner

Related Words

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