reverse

[ ri-vurs ]

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.

noun

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 ( 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)

, re·versed, re·vers·ing.

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)

, re·versed, re·vers·ing.

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

/ 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. reverse arms
   military to turn one's arms upside down, esp as a token of mourning
9. reverse the charge or reverse the charges
   to make a telephone call at the recipient's expense

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 reverse
   in an opposite or backward direction
9. the reverse of
   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

Derived Forms

• reˈversely, adverb
• reˈverser, noun

Other Words From

• re·vers·ed·ly [ri-, vur, -sid-lee, -, vurst, -lee], adverb
• re·versely adverb
• re·verser noun
• half-re·versed adjective
• nonre·verse adjective noun
• nonre·versed adjective
• nonre·versing adjective
• prere·verse noun verb (used with object) prereversed prereversing
• unre·versed adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of reverse¹

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” ( 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

Word History and Origins

Origin of reverse¹

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

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

The Biden administration did not reverse the trend.

From BBC

Such an approach would reverse Biden administration policies that direct Ice to focus on deporting serious criminals, national security threats and recent border crossers.

From BBC

"This fascinating finding will open the door for many important discoveries. It will be interesting to reveal the molecular mechanism driving reverse development, and what happens to the animal's nerve net during this process."

From Salon

Her department says it is a "scandal" that only about one third of homes lost to RTB have been replaced since 2012, and that it was "working at pace to reverse the continued decline of social rented homes".

From BBC

It will be inscribed with the words "For A Life Given In Service" and will have the name of the person it commemorates on the reverse.

From BBC

Related Words

• reversal