reverse

1 of 2

noun (1)

1

: something directly contrary to something else : opposite

The river flows south to north, rather than the reverse.

I thought it would be easy, but it was quite the reverse. [=it was not easy at all]

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

see also:

in reverse

the reverse

2 of 2

noun (2)

1

: something that is opposite to something else

The river flows south to north, rather than the reverse.

Women may play in the men's league, but not the reverse. Men have to play in their own league.

You don't owe me any money. If anything, the reverse is true.

"Did you think it would be difficult?" "Quite the reverse. I thought it would be easy."

—often + of

The ending of the book was the reverse of what I expected.

2

: the back side of a coin, document, etc.

The building appears on the reverse of the coin.

Please sign your name on the reverse.

Synonyms of reverse

Noun (1)

• reversal
• setback

Examples of reverse in a Sentence

Noun (1)

The building appears on the reverse of the coin.

Please sign your name on the reverse.

I put the car in reverse and backed out of the garage.

Recent Examples on the Web

Noun

In keeping with the show’s defiance of mortality, Lee and Lifeson seemed to have almost aged in reverse since 2015, with Lifeson notably trimmer and musically nimble, and Lee pummeling his bass while skipping around the stage faster than any 72-year-old should be able to manage. —Brian Hiatt, Rolling Stone, 8 June 2026

In agriculture, time is compound interest in reverse. —John W.h. Denton Ao, Fortune, 6 June 2026

The results played into a popular narrative that Rudd seems to be aging in reverse. —Lacey Rose, HollywoodReporter, 3 June 2026

These were not tacos reverse-engineered for a white-tablecloth audience or softened for white palates. —Brock Keeling, Oc Register, 3 June 2026

Word History

First Known Use

Noun (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing reverse

• in/into reverse gear
• in reverse
• in reverse order
• into reverse
• reverse-charge
• reverse discrimination
• reverse engineer
• reverse field
• reverse gear
• reverse mortgage
• reverse oneself
• reverse one's field
• reverse osmosis
• reverse Polish notation
• reverse psychology
• reverse the charge
• reverse the charges
• reverse transcriptase
• reverse transcription
• reverse zoonosis
• the reverse
• the reverse is true

Rhymes for reverse

• adverse
• averse
• coerce
• disburse
• disperse
• diverse
• immerse
• inverse
• obverse
• perverse
• rehearse
• transverse

Kids Definition

reverse

1 of 3 adjective

re·​verse ri-ˈvərs 

1

: opposite or contrary to a previous or normal condition

reverse order

2

: acting or working in a manner opposite to the usual

3

: bringing about backward movement

reverse gear

reversely adverb

reverse

2 of 3 verb

reversed; reversing

1

: to turn completely about or upside down or inside out

2

a

: to overthrow or set aside a legal decision by an opposite decision

b

: to change to the contrary

reverse a policy

3

a

: to go or cause to go in the opposite direction

b

: to put (as a car) into reverse

4

: to undo the effect of (as a condition)

face creams that promise to reverse the signs of aging

reverser noun

reverse

3 of 3 noun

1

: something directly opposite to something else

2

: an act or instance of reversing

especially : a change for the worse

3

: the back part of something

4

: a gear that reverses something

Etymology

Adjective

Middle English revers "opposite or contrary to a previous or normal condition," from early French revers (same meaning), from Latin reversus "turned back," from revertere "to turn back," from re- "again" + vertere "to turn" — related to converse, versatile, vertical, vice versa

Medical Definition

reverse

transitive verb

re·​verse ri-ˈvərs 

reversed; reversing

: 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

Legal Definition

reverse

verb

re·​verse

reversed; reversing

transitive verb

: to set aside or make void (a judgment or decision) by a contrary decision compare affirm

intransitive verb

: to reverse a decision or judgment

for these reasons, we reverse

reversible adjective