reverse

American  

[ri-vurs] / rɪˈvɜrs /

adjective

1. opposite or contrary in position, direction, order, or character.

   an impression reverse to what was intended; in reverse sequence.

   Synonyms:

   converse

   Antonyms:

   same

2. with the back or rear part toward the observer.

   the reverse side of a fabric.

3. pertaining to or producing movement in a mechanism opposite to that made under ordinary running conditions.

   a reverse gear; a reverse turbine.

4. acting in a manner opposite or contrary to that which is usual, as an appliance or apparatus.

5. noting or pertaining to an image like that seen in a mirror; backward; reversed.

6. noting or pertaining to printed matter in which what is normally white, as the page of a book, appears as black, and vice versa.

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noun

reverses plural

1. the opposite or contrary of something.

   Synonyms:

   counterpart, converse

2. the back or rear of anything.

3. Numismatics.

   1. the side of a coin, medal, etc., that does not bear the principal design (opposed to obverse).

   2. the side of an ancient coin that was struck by the upper die.

4. an adverse change of fortune; a misfortune, check, or defeat.

   to meet with an unexpected reverse.

   Synonyms:

   affliction, misadventure, mishap

5. Machinery.

   1. the condition of being reversed.

      to throw an engine into reverse.

   2. a reversing mechanism.

6. Football. a play on offense in which one back running laterally hands the ball to another back who is running in the opposite direction and who then makes either an end run or a cutback.

7. Bridge. reverse bid.

8. Printing. printed matter in which areas that normally appear as white are printed in black, and vice versa.

verb (used with object)

reverses, present (3rd person singular) reversed, past participle, past reversing present participle

1. to turn in an opposite position; transpose.

   The printer accidently reversed two chapters of the book.

2. to turn in the opposite direction; send on the opposite course.

3. to turn inside out or upside down.

4. to change the direction of running of (a mechanism).

5. to cause (a mechanism) to run in a direction opposite to that in which it commonly runs.

6. to revoke or annul (a decree, judgment, etc.).

   to reverse a verdict.

   Synonyms:

   overthrow, rescind, countermand, veto, repeal

7. to alter to the opposite in character or tendency; change completely.

8. to turn in the opposite order.

   to reverse the process of evolution.

9. Printing. to print as a reverse.

verb (used without object)

reverses, present (3rd person singular) reversed, past participle, past reversing present participle

1. to shift into reverse gear.

   The driver drove forward, then reversed.

2. (of a mechanism) to be reversed.

3. to turn or move in the opposite or contrary direction, as in dancing.

4. Bridge. to make a reverse bid.

reverse British  

/ rɪˈvɜːs /

verb

1. to turn or set in an opposite direction, order, or position

2. to change into something different or contrary; alter completely

   reverse one's policy

3. (also intr) to move or cause to move backwards or in an opposite direction

   to reverse a car

4. to run (machinery, etc) in the opposite direction to normal

5. to turn inside out

6. law to revoke or set aside (a judgment, decree, etc); annul

7. (often foll by out) to print from plates so made that white lettering or design of (a page, text, display, etc) appears on a black or coloured background

8. military to turn one's arms upside down, esp as a token of mourning

9. to make a telephone call at the recipient's expense

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noun

1. the opposite or contrary of something

2. the back or rear side of something

3. a change to an opposite position, state, or direction

4. a change for the worse; setback or defeat

5. 1. the mechanism or gears by which machinery, a vehicle, etc, can be made to reverse its direction

   2. ( as modifier )

      reverse gear

6. the side of a coin bearing a secondary design Compare obverse

7. 1. printed matter in which normally black or coloured areas, esp lettering, appear white, and vice versa

   2. ( as modifier )

      reverse plates

8. in an opposite or backward direction

9. emphatically not; not at all

   he was the reverse of polite when I called

adjective

1. opposite or contrary in direction, position, order, nature, etc; turned backwards

2. back to front; inverted

3. operating or moving in a manner contrary to that which is usual

4. denoting or relating to a mirror image

Synonym Usage

See opposite. Reverse, invert agree in meaning to change into a contrary position, order, or relation. To reverse is to place or move something so that it is facing in the opposite direction from the one faced previously: to reverse from right to left; to reverse a decision. To invert is to turn upside down: to invert a stamp in printing; to invert a bowl over a plate.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• prereverse
  noun
• reverser
  noun
• half-reversed
  adjective
• nonreverse
  adjective
• nonreversed
  adjective
• nonreversing
  adjective
• unreversed
  adjective
• reversedly
  adverb
• reversely
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Nouns

• reverses
  plural

Participles

• reversing
  present
• reversed
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• reverse
  simple
• reverses
  simple
• have reversed
  perfect
• has reversed
  perfect
• am reversing
  progressive
• are reversing
  progressive
• is reversing
  progressive
• have been reversing
  perfect progressive
• has been reversing
  perfect progressive

Past

• reversed
  simple
• had reversed
  perfect
• was reversing
  progressive
• were reversing
  progressive
• had been reversing
  perfect progressive

Future

• will reverse
  simple
• will have reversed
  perfect
• will be reversing
  progressive
• will have been reversing
  perfect progressive

Etymology

Origin of reverse

First recorded in 1275–1325; (for the noun) Middle English revers, from Old French, from Latin reversus “turned back,” past participle of revertere “to turn back” ( see revert); (for the verb) Middle English reversen, from Old French reverser, from Late Latin reversāre “to turn around,” literally, “to turn back repeatedly,” from revertere

Explanation

To go in reverse, you back up. If you reverse your position, you suddenly take the opposite side of the argument. If you reverse your fortunes, your bad luck turns good, or your good luck turns bad. Oops. The Latin word revertere means “turn back.” To reverse means to turn back, take the opposite direction, go the other way. Many things can be reversed: you can reverse a decision, you can reverse a car — by putting it in the gear called "reverse." You can reverse a political argument, a promotion, even some surgical procedures, but you can never reverse the steady progress of time, no matter how many Botox injections you get.

Example Sentences

The news caused a reverse on the Nasdaq and S&P 500, which had been boosted early on by blowout results from chip company Micron.

From Barron's • Jun. 26, 2026

Iranian authorities ordered at least three oil tankers transiting the Strait of Hormuz to turn back, and two additional ships appeared to reverse course as well, maritime intelligence company Windward said Thursday.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 25, 2026

These findings do not mean vitamin B12 supplements can reverse ageing or act as an energy booster for people whose B12 levels are already normal.

From Science Daily • Jun. 25, 2026

"Luckily we were able to reverse that situation, take the lead and get the three points."

From BBC • Jun. 22, 2026

He did not long for open space and freedom—just the reverse.

From "The Heart is a Lonely Hunter" by Carson McCullers

Related Words

• alter
• annul
• dismantle
• invalidate
• lift
• modify
• nullify
• overrule
• overturn
• quash
• repeal
• rescind
• revoke
• set aside
• undo