opposite

[ op-uh-zit, -sit ]

adjective

1. 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.

2. 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.

   Synonyms: unlike, irreconcilable, incompatible

   Antonyms: like, same

3. 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.

4. Botany.
   1. situated on diametrically opposed sides of an axis, as leaves when there are two on one node.
   2. having one organ vertically above another; superimposed.
5. adverse or inimical.

noun

1. a person or thing that is opposite or contrary.
2. an antonym.
3. Archaic. an opponent; antagonist.

preposition

1. across from; facing:

   The guest of honor sat opposite me at the banquet.

2. in a role parallel or complementary to:

   He has played opposite many leading ladies.

adverb

1. on opposite sides.
2. on the opposite side:

   I was at one end and she sat opposite.

3. to the opposite side; in the opposite direction:

   I went to the left balcony, and he went opposite.

opposite

/ ˈɒpəzɪt; -sɪt /

adjective

1. situated or being on the other side or at each side of something between

   their houses were at opposite ends of the street

2. facing or going in contrary directions

   opposite ways

3. diametrically different in character, tendency, belief, etc

   opposite views

4. botany
   1. (of leaves, flowers, etc) arranged in pairs on either side of the stem
   2. (of parts of a flower) arranged opposite the middle of another part
5. maths
   1. (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
   2. (of a side in a triangle) facing a specified angle opp

noun

1. a person or thing that is opposite; antithesis
2. maths the side facing a specified angle in a right-angled triangle
3. See opponent
   a rare word for opponent

preposition

1. Alsoopposite to facing; corresponding to (something on the other side of a division)

   the house opposite ours

2. as a co-star with

   she played opposite Olivier in ``Hamlet''

adverb

1. on opposite sides

   she lives opposite

opposite

/ ŏp′ə-zĭt /

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

Derived Forms

• ˈoppositeness, noun
• ˈoppositely, adverb

Other Words From

• op·po·site·ly adverb
• op·po·site·ness noun
• sub·op·po·site adjective
• sub·op·po·site·ly adverb
• sub·op·po·site·ness noun

Word History and Origins

Origin of opposite¹

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin oppositus, past participle of oppōnere “to set against”; oppose, -ite ²

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

The trajectory of the Sun, meanwhile, is the opposite of Chicago’s journey.

From FiveThirtyEight

Though this may seem like yet another effort to “get tough” on China, it does just the opposite.

From Fortune

Unfortunately, federal officials are doing just the opposite.

From Fortune

Steve Levitt tries to learn more about this one-time academic and Hollywood non-conformist, who is both very similar to him and also quite his opposite.

From Freakonomics

It had the opposite effect after Republicans protested the move.

From Voice of San Diego

The media tend to frame situations like this as aberrations, but in this case, quite the opposite is the truth.

From The Daily Beast

But quite unlike the schmuck, and this is the fun part, they never run up the white flag; indeed quite the opposite.

From The Daily Beast

Couple walked towards the opposite end of the dungeon, where she previously played with Destiny.

From The Daily Beast

As Rathod noted, SIX is not supposed to be merely the opposite of ALEC.

From The Daily Beast

I'm very interested in Liv Ullmann for the woman's part, opposite Sean … yes … oh, I see then.

From The Daily Beast

When we speak against one capital vice, we ought to speak against its opposite; the middle betwixt both is the point for virtue.

From Project Gutenberg

Sam sat opposite him in perfect silence, waiting, with eager curiosity, for the termination of the scene.

From Project Gutenberg

The opposite of these two methods of rote learning is my method, which injects an active process between each pair of words.

From Project Gutenberg

A method of Vacuity pure and simple—the exact opposite of Mental Assimilation.

From Project Gutenberg

The characteristics of the different forms are well shown in the table on opposite page, modified from Hill.

From Project Gutenberg

Related Words

• adverse
• antagonistic
• antithetical
• contradictory
• differing
• paradoxical
• reversed