opposite

[ op-uh-zit, -sit ]

/ ˈɒp ə zɪt, -sɪt /

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See synonyms for: opposite / opposites / oppositely / oppositeness on Thesaurus.com

adjective

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.

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.

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.

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.

adverse or inimical.

noun

a person or thing that is opposite or contrary.

an antonym.

Archaic. an opponent; antagonist.

preposition

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

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

adverb

on opposite sides.

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

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

OTHER WORDS FOR opposite

1 facing.

2 incompatible, irreconcilable, unlike, differing.

See synonyms for opposite on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR opposite

2 same, like.

See antonyms for opposite on Thesaurus.com

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His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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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, -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 FROM opposite

op·po·site·ly, adverbop·po·site·ness, nounsub·op·po·site, adjectivesub·op·po·site·ly, adverb

sub·op·po·site·ness, noun

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use opposite in a sentence

She gets herself cast in the only woman’s part, opposite Martin, who flies out from England to play the male lead.
The mind-boggling end of Susan Choi’s Trust Exercise, explained|Constance Grady|November 20, 2020|Vox
Einstein’s revolution, Pauli pointed out, merged space and time into a single entity—space-time—not opposites.
The Synchronicity of Wolfgang Pauli and Carl Jung - Issue 93: Forerunners|Paul Halpern|November 18, 2020|Nautilus
Repeat with the opposite arm and leg, keeping your hips and shoulders square.
Strength Training for Lower-Back Pain|Lauren Bedosky|November 18, 2020|Outside Online
“The dogma is completely opposite than what you would expect,” said Malik.
A key to the mystery of fast-evolving genes was found in ‘junk DNA’|Monique Brouillette|November 16, 2020|Science News

Rotating it by 120 or 240 degrees, or reflecting it across the line from each corner to the midpoint of the opposite side, or doing nothing, all leave the triangle looking the same as before.
What Is a Particle?|Natalie Wolchover|November 12, 2020|Quanta Magazine
After drying, the clay can be removed by brushing or by causing the beans to travel between oppositely reciprocated wet cloths.
All About Coffee|William H. Ukers
Roughly speaking, therefore, cobalt behaves oppositely to iron.
Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 17, Slice 3|Various
Upon the back of the fixed plate are two sectors of tinfoil which become charged oppositely.
Physics|Willis Eugene Tower
Passing on now hurriedly and blindly, he jostled against some oppositely-going wayfarer.
Pierre; or The Ambiguities|Herman Melville
A harrow comprising two ranks of oppositely curved trailing teeth is especially popular in some countries.
Inventions in the Century|William Henry Doolittle

British Dictionary definitions for opposite

opposite

/ (ˈɒpəzɪt, -sɪt) /

adjective

situated or being on the other side or at each side of something betweentheir houses were at opposite ends of the street

facing or going in contrary directionsopposite ways

diametrically different in character, tendency, belief, etcopposite views

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

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 angleAbbreviation: opp

noun

a person or thing that is opposite; antithesis

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

a rare word for opponent

preposition

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

as a co-star withshe played opposite Olivier in ``Hamlet''

adverb

on opposite sidesshe lives opposite

Derived forms of opposite

oppositely, adverboppositeness, 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

[ ŏp′ə-zĭt ]

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

opposite

OTHER WORDS FOR opposite

OPPOSITES FOR opposite

Origin of opposite

synonym study for opposite

OTHER WORDS FROM opposite

Words related to opposite

How to use opposite in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for opposite

Derived forms of opposite

Scientific definitions for opposite