reverse

[ ri-vurs ]

/ rɪˈvɜrs /

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See synonyms for: reverse / reversed / reversing on Thesaurus.com

adjective

opposite or contrary in position, direction, order, or character: an impression reverse to what was intended; in reverse sequence.

with the back or rear part toward the observer: the reverse side of a fabric.

pertaining to or producing movement in a mechanism opposite to that made under ordinary running conditions: a reverse gear; a reverse turbine.

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

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

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

noun

the opposite or contrary of something.

the back or rear of anything.

Numismatics.

the side of a coin, medal, etc., that does not bear the principal design (opposed to obverse).
the side of an ancient coin that was struck by the upper die.

an adverse change of fortune; a misfortune, check, or defeat: to meet with an unexpected reverse.

Machinery.

the condition of being reversed: to throw an engine into reverse.
a reversing mechanism.

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.

Bridge. reverse bid.

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

verb (used with object), re·versed, re·vers·ing.

to turn in an opposite position; transpose: The printer accidently reversed two chapters of the book.

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

to turn inside out or upside down.

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

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

to revoke or annul (a decree, judgment, etc.): to reverse a verdict.

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

to turn in the opposite order: to reverse the process of evolution.

Printing. to print as a reverse.

verb (used without object), re·versed, re·vers·ing.

to shift into reverse gear: The driver drove forward, then reversed.

(of a mechanism) to be reversed.

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

Bridge. to make a reverse bid.

OTHER WORDS FOR reverse

1 converse.

7 converse, counterpart.

10 mishap, misadventure, affliction.

20 repeal, veto, countermand, rescind, overthrow.

See synonyms for reverse on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR reverse

1 same.

See antonyms for reverse on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

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 reverse

1275–1325; (noun) Middle English revers<Old French <Latin reversus, past participle of revertere to revert (see verse); (v.) Middle English reversen<Old French reverser<Late Latin reversāre, frequentative of revertere

synonym study for reverse

1. See opposite. 15, 17. 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 WORDS FROM reverse

re·vers·ed·ly

[ri-vur-sid-lee, -vurst-lee], /rɪˈvɜr sɪd li, -ˈvɜrst li/, adverbre·verse·ly, adverbre·vers·er, nounhalf-re·versed, adjective

non·re·verse, adjective, nounnon·re·versed, adjectivenon·re·vers·ing, adjectivepre·re·verse, noun, verb (used with object), pre·re·versed, pre·re·vers·ing.un·re·versed, adjective

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH reverse

converse, inverse, obverse, reverse

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

How to use reverse in a sentence

The agency added that it reversed its previous ruling after receiving new information, and that it will keep monitoring the case.
A leading Chinese COVID vaccine resumes trials after brief pause|Claire Zillman, reporter|November 12, 2020|Fortune
Because the conference initially planned to not play football this fall and then reversed the decision in September, the Big Ten’s delayed schedule left no room to reschedule missed games.
Maryland game against Ohio State canceled after eight Terps test positive for coronavirus|Emily Giambalvo|November 11, 2020|Washington Post
If I'm not interested in this person, I still feel obligated to acknowledge the offer and decline it out of some sense of courtesy — even though that is not my experience when the tables are reversed.
Miss Manners: Does an online dating request deserve a reply to decline?|Judith Martin, Nicholas Martin, Jacobina Martin|November 11, 2020|Washington Post
Those shutdowns reversed the course of the crisis in the United States while also crashing the economy.
These venues are high-risk areas for spreading the coronavirus, model suggests|Ben Guarino, Joel Achenbach|November 10, 2020|Washington Post

Another development this week could actually be an even bigger obstacle to reopening – or reverse some reopenings altogether.
The Learning Curve: Schools That Haven’t Reopened Yet Might Not Get the Chance|Will Huntsberry|November 5, 2020|Voice of San Diego
The perfume of flowers is delighted in, and, reversely, disagreeable odours repel.
The Coming of the Fairies|Arthur Conan Doyle
It was forgotten that, reversely, if we have property, we must always have armies and fleets to protect it.
Ten Years Near the German Frontier|Maurice Francis Egan
All parts of each of the two trees that rise from the bottom of the field are reversely duplicated in the other.
Oriental Rugs|Walter A. Hawley
Reversely, the greater the velocity of lead, the greater its effect on the object struck.
Gunnery in 1858|William Greener
Reversely, what an awful thing it must be for the conscience if one is not properly called.
Commentary on the Epistle to the Galatians|Martin Luther

British Dictionary definitions for reverse

reverse

/ (rɪˈvɜːs) /

verb (mainly tr)

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

to change into something different or contrary; alter completelyreverse one's policy

(also intr) to move or cause to move backwards or in an opposite directionto reverse a car

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

to turn inside out

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

(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

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

reverse the charge or reverse the charges to make a telephone call at the recipient's expense

noun

the opposite or contrary of something

the back or rear side of something

a change to an opposite position, state, or direction

a change for the worse; setback or defeat

the mechanism or gears by which machinery, a vehicle, etc, can be made to reverse its direction
(as modifier)reverse gear

the side of a coin bearing a secondary designCompare obverse (def. 5)

printed matter in which normally black or coloured areas, esp lettering, appear white, and vice versa
(as modifier)reverse plates

in reverse in an opposite or backward direction

the reverse of emphatically not; not at allhe was the reverse of polite when I called

adjective

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

back to front; inverted

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

denoting or relating to a mirror image

Derived forms of reverse

reversely, adverbreverser, noun

Word Origin for reverse

C14: from Old French, from Latin reversus, from revertere to turn back

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

reverse

OTHER WORDS FOR reverse

OPPOSITES FOR reverse

Origin of reverse

synonym study for reverse

OTHER WORDS FROM reverse

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH reverse

Words related to reverse

How to use reverse in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for reverse

Derived forms of reverse

Word Origin for reverse