Meaning of reverse in English

Table of contents
  1. Pronunciation
  2. Verb
    1. Etymology
    2. Definitions
  3. Classifying Adjective
    1. Definitions
  4. Noun
    1. Definitions
  5. Qualitative Adjective
    1. Definitions

  1. Pronunciation

    /rəˈvərs/

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    UK accent

  1. Verb

    reverse

    Etymology

    Middle English: from Old French revers, reverse (nouns), reverser (verb), from Latin reversus‘turned back’, past participle of revertere, from re-‘back’ + vertere‘to turn’

    Definitions

    1. change to the contrary

    Examples

    • « The trend was reversed »
    • « the tides turned against him »
    • « public opinion turned when it was revealed that the president had an affair with a White House intern »

    Derived terms

  2. 2. turn inside out or upside down

    Derived terms

  3. 3. rule against

    Examples

    • « The Republicans were overruled when the House voted on the bill »

    Derived terms

  4. 4. annul by recalling or rescinding

    Examples

    • « He revoked the ban on smoking »
    • « lift an embargo »
    • « vacate a death sentence »

    Derived terms

  5. Classifying Adjective

    reverse

    Definitions

    1. directed or moving toward the rear

    Examples

    • « a rearward glance »
    • « a rearward movement »

    Synonyms

  6. 2. reversed (turned backward) in order or nature or effect

    Synonyms

  7. Noun

    reverse

    Definitions

    1. a relation of direct opposition

    Examples

    • « we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true »

    Derived terms

  8. 2. the gears by which the motion of a machine can be reversed
  9. 3. an unfortunate happening that hinders of impedes

    Examples

    • « something that is thwarting or frustrating »

    Derived terms

  10. 4. the side of a coin or medal that does not bear the principal design

    Antonyms

  11. 5. (American football) a running play in which a back running in one direction hands the ball to a back running in the opposite direction
  12. 6. turning in the opposite direction

    Derived terms

  13. Qualitative Adjective

    reverse

    Definitions

    1. of the transmission gear causing backward movement in a motor vehicle

    Examples

    • « in reverse gear »

    Antonyms

Famous quotes

  • « To do what we are doing in this budget to our children, cutting their health care funds, decreasing opportunity, simply so we can pay for tax cuts and a war in Iraq is beyond belief, and we need to reverse it. »
    Tom Allen
  • « God created man in His own image, says the Bible philosophers reverse the process: they create God in theirs. »
    Georg C. Lichtenberg
  • « Mr. Obama still has time to reverse course. A great deal depends on it. To fail on health care yet again might well be the 'Waterloo' Republicans dream of. »
    Thomas Frank
  • « You can have a lot of unhappiness by not having money, but the reverse is no guarantee of happiness. »
    Philip Kaufman
  • « Actions are right in proportion as they tend to promote happiness wrong as they tend to produce the reverse of happiness. By happiness is intended pleasure and the absence of pain. »
    John Stuart Mill

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