revert

verb

re·​vert ri-ˈvərt How to pronounce revert (audio)
reverted; reverting; reverts

intransitive verb

1
: to come or go back (as to a former condition, period, or subject)
2
: to return to the proprietor or his or her heirs at the end of a reversion
3
: to return to an ancestral type
reverter noun
revertible adjective

Examples of revert in a Sentence

after the national emergency had passed, the political parties abandoned their shotgun unity and reverted to their partisan squabbling
Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
His demands include asking the company to revert back to open-source and an injunction to prevent OpenAI execs from profiting from AGI. Beatrice Nolan, Fortune, 24 June 2025 During President Donald Trump's second presidency, his administration has designated English as the national language, removed hundreds of books from military libraries that are about race relations and LGBTQ+ history in the United States, and reverted military bases to their Confederate names. Sophie Clark, MSNBC Newsweek, 19 June 2025 The base changes will solidify a campaign promise made by President Trump, who vowed to revert bases back. Ellen Mitchell, The Hill, 18 June 2025 Delivering remarks at Fort Bragg, which had been designated Fort Liberty before his administration reverted the installation to its previous name, Trump said the Pentagon planned to rename seven other bases. Francesca Chambers, USA Today, 11 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for revert

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, from Anglo-French revertir, from Latin revertere, transitive verb, "to turn back" & reverti, intransitive verb, "to return, come back," from re- + vertere, verti "to turn" — more at worth

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of revert was in the 15th century

Browse Nearby Words

Cite this Entry

“Revert.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/revert. Accessed 30 Jun. 2025.

Kids Definition

revert

verb
re·​vert ri-ˈvərt How to pronounce revert (audio)
1
: to come or go back
reverted to the customs of their ancestors
2
: to experience reversion

Medical Definition

revert

intransitive verb
re·​vert ri-ˈvərt How to pronounce revert (audio)
: to undergo reversion
revertible adjective

Legal Definition

revert

intransitive verb
re·​vert ri-ˈvərt How to pronounce revert (audio)
1
: to come or go back (as to a former status or state)
if the donee of a general power fails to exercise it…the appointive assets revert to the donor's estateW. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
2
: to return to the grantor or his or her heirs as a reversion
revertible adjective

More from Merriam-Webster on revert

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
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