opposite

noun

1

: something that is opposed to some other often specified thing

We thought the job would be difficult, but it was quite the opposite.

My two sisters are complete/exact/polar opposites.

2

: antonym

3

: additive inverse

especially : the additive inverse of a real number

Synonyms of opposite

• contrary
• reverse
• obverse

Examples of opposite in a Sentence

“Wet” is the opposite of “dry.”

The terms “black” and “white” are opposites.

Recent Examples on the Web

Advertisement The opposite of a micromoon is a supermoon, which occurs when a full moon reaches perigee, or its closest point to Earth on the moon’s orbit. —Connor Greene, Time, 29 May 2026

External focus does the opposite for him. —Elise Devlin, New York Times, 29 May 2026

In fact, it’s been quite the opposite. —Nick Lichtenberg, Fortune, 29 May 2026

In reality, the opposite is true. —Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 28 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French, borrowed from Latin oppositus, noun derivative from past participle of oppōnere "to place (over or against), place as an obstacle, set in opposition to, argue in reply" — more at oppose

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing opposite

• diametrically opposite
• exact opposite
• opposite number
• opposite/other extreme
• opposite sex
• the opposite sex
• the other/opposite/flip side of the coin

Kids Definition

opposite

1 of 4 adjective

op·​po·​site ˈäp-ə-zət 

ˈäp-sət

1

a

: being at the other end, side, or corner

lived on opposite sides of the street

the opposite sides of a rectangle

b

: being one of two angles of a four-sided figure (as a square or parallelogram) that are not next to each other

2

a

: being in a position to oppose or cancel out

opposite sides of the question

b

: as different as possible : contrary

reached opposite conclusions

went off in opposite directions

3

: being the other of a matching or contrasting pair

the opposite sex

oppositely adverb

oppositeness noun

opposite

2 of 4 noun

1

: someone or something that is opposite

2

: antonym

3

: additive inverse

especially : the additive inverse of a real number

+3 and −3 are opposites

opposite

3 of 4 adverb

: on or to the opposite side

opposite

4 of 4 preposition

: across from and usually facing or on the same level with

the house opposite ours