reverse

¹re·verse

adjective \ri-ˈvərs\

Definition of REVERSE

1

a : opposite or contrary to a previous or normal condition <reverse order>

b (1) : having the back presented to the observer or opponent (2) : made with one's back to the basketball net <a reverse layup>

2

: coming from the rear of a military force

3

: acting, operating, or arranged in a manner contrary to the usual

4

: effecting reverse movement <reverse gear>

5

: so made that the part which normally prints in color appears white against a colored background

— re·verse·ly adverb

Examples of REVERSE

1. Can you say the alphabet in reverse order?
2. The drug is used to lower blood pressure but may have the reverse effect in some patients.

Origin of REVERSE

Middle English revers, from Anglo-French, from Latin reversus, past participle of revertere to turn back — more at revert

First Known Use: 14th century

Rhymes with REVERSE

adverse, amerce, asperse, averse, coerce, commerce, converse, cutpurse, disburse, disperse, diverse, dry nurse, free verse, immerse, inverse, Nez Percé, obverse, perverse, rehearse, scrub nurse, sesterce, submerse, transverse, traverse, wet nurse

²reverse

verb

re·versedre·vers·ing

Definition of REVERSE

transitive verb

1

a : to turn completely about in position or direction

b : to turn upside down : invert

c : to cause to take an opposite point of view <reversed herself on the issue>

2

: negate, undo: as

a : to overthrow, set aside, or make void (a legal decision) by a contrary decision

b : to change to the contrary <reverse a policy>

c : to undo or negate the effect of (as a condition or surgical operation) <had his vasectomy reversed>

3

: to cause to go in the opposite direction; especially : to cause (as an engine) to perform its action in the opposite direction

intransitive verb

1

: to turn or move in the opposite direction <the count's waltzing … consisted … of reversing at top speed — Agatha Christie>

2

: to put a mechanism (as an engine) in reverse

— re·vers·er noun

— reverse field or reverse one's field

: to make a sudden reversal in direction or opinion

Examples of REVERSE

1. The runners reversed their direction on the track.
2. There is no way to reverse the aging process.
3. Can anything reverse the trend toward higher prices?
4. Reverse the “i” and “e” in “recieve” to spell “receive” correctly.
5. My mother and I reversed our roles. Now I'm taking care of her.
6. We're going to reverse our usual order and start with Z.

First Known Use of REVERSE

14th century

Related to REVERSE

Synonyms

switch

Related Words

abrogate, annul, overturn, repeal, rescind, revoke, strike down; about-face, backtrack, countermand, revert

Near Antonyms

maintain, support, uphold

Synonym Discussion of REVERSE

reverse, transpose, invert mean to change to the opposite position. reverse is the most general term and may imply change in order, side, direction, meaning <reversed his position on the trade agreement>. transpose implies a change in order or relative position of units often through exchange of position <transposed the letters to form an anagram>. invert applies chiefly to turning upside down or inside out <a stamp with an inverted picture of an airplane>.

³reverse

noun

Definition of REVERSE

1

: something directly contrary to something else : opposite

2

: an act or instance of reversing; especially : defeat, setback <suffered financial reverses>

3

: the back part of something; especially : the side of a coin or currency note that is opposite the obverse

4

a (1) : a gear that reverses something; also : the whole mechanism brought into play when such a gear is used (2) : movement in reverse

b : an offensive play in football in which a back moving in one direction gives the ball to a player moving in the opposite direction

— in reverse

: in an opposite manner or direction

Examples of REVERSE

1. The building appears on the reverse of the coin.
2. Please sign your name on the reverse.
3. I put the car in reverse and backed out of the garage.

First Known Use of REVERSE

14th century

Related to REVERSE

Synonyms

knock, lapse, reversal, setback

Antonyms

face, forehead, forepart, front

Related Words

disappointment, frustration, letdown; comedown, decline, descent, down, downfall, fall; turnabout, turnaround; recession, regression, retrogression, reversion; relapse; breakdown, collapse, crash, meltdown, ruin, undoing

Near Antonyms

status quo

Other Monetary Terms

clad, legend, numismatic, obverse, scrip, series, specie

re·verse

transitive verb \ri-ˈvərs\   (Medical Dictionary)

re·versed; re·vers·ing

Medical Definition of REVERSE

: to change drastically or completely the course or effect of: as a : to initiate recovery from <reverse a disease> b : to make of no effect or as if not done <reverse a surgical procedure>