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versus
[ vur-suhs, -suhz ]
/ ˈvɜr səs, -səz /
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This shows grade level based on the word's complexity.
preposition
against (used especially to indicate an action brought by one party against another in a court of law, or to denote competing teams or players in a sports contest): Smith versus Jones; Army versus Navy.
as compared to or as one of two choices; in contrast with: traveling by plane versus traveling by train.Abbreviations: v., vs.
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THINGAMABOB OR THINGUMMY: CAN YOU DISTINGUISH BETWEEN THE US AND UK TERMS IN THIS QUIZ?
Do you know the difference between everyday US and UK terminology? Test yourself with this quiz on words that differ across the Atlantic.
Question 1 of 7
In the UK, COTTON CANDY is more commonly known as…
Origin of versus
First recorded in 1400–50; Late Middle English, from Latin: literally, “towards,” i.e., “turned so as to face (something), opposite, over against,” originally past participle of vertere “to turn”; see verse
WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH versus
verse, versusWords nearby versus
vers libre, vers-librist, vers-libriste, verso, verst, versus, vert, vertebr-, vertebra, vertebral, vertebral canal
Dictionary.com Unabridged
Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use versus in a sentence
British Dictionary definitions for versus
versus
/ (ˈvɜːsəs) /
preposition
(esp in a competition or lawsuit) against; in opposition toAbbreviation: v, (esp US) vs
as opposed to; in contrast with
Word Origin for versus
C15: from Latin: turned (in the direction of), opposite, from vertere to turn
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition
© William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins
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