reverse

1 of 3

adjective

re·​verse ri-ˈvərs 

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

reversely adverb

reverse

2 of 3

verb

reversed; reversing

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: such 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 (something, such as a condition or surgical operation)

had his vasectomy reversed

3

: to cause to go in the opposite direction

especially : to cause (something, such 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 (such as an engine) in reverse

reverser noun

reverse

3 of 3

noun

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

Phrases

reverse field or reverse one's field

: to make a sudden reversal in direction or opinion

in reverse

: in an opposite manner or direction

Synonyms

Verb

• switch

Noun

• knock
• lapse
• reversal
• setback

Choose the Right Synonym for 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.

the number 9 looks like an inverted 6

Examples of reverse in a Sentence

Adjective

Can you say the alphabet in reverse order?

The drug is used to lower blood pressure but may have the reverse effect in some patients.

Verb

The runners reversed their direction on the track.

There is no way to reverse the aging process.

Can anything reverse the trend toward higher prices?

Reverse the “i” and “e” in “recieve” to spell “receive” correctly.

My mother and I reversed our roles. Now I'm taking care of her.

We're going to reverse our usual order and start with Z.

Noun

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

Adjective

Known for its reverse chronological storytelling, the noir thriller stars Rainn Wilson, Wyatt Russell, Ron Livingston, and more. —Matt Grobar, Deadline, 28 Apr. 2025

Even though return volumes are rising, reverse supply chains are actually underdeveloped. —Andre Claudio, Sourcing Journal, 25 Apr. 2025

Verb

Calgary, Canada, voted in 2011 to ban the mineral from its water supply, but after a notable spike in dental cavities in the city's children, the legislature last year reversed its decision. —Alana Wise, NPR, 30 Apr. 2025

The video shows that Knight reversed the two-ton truck, knocking Sloan to the ground. —Nancy Dillon, Rolling Stone, 29 Apr. 2025

Noun

In Vietnam, dusty provincial museums and newer, sleeker ones inaugurated for the 50th anniversary echo the sentiment in reverse, displaying mannequins of wily peasant farmers taking on the U.S. war machine. — Made By History, Time, 30 Apr. 2025

That’s one of the most normal things for a story that was always told in reverse. —Lissete Lanuza Sáenz, StyleCaster, 22 Apr. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Adjective

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

First Known Use

Adjective

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Phrases Containing reverse

• in/into reverse gear
• in reverse
• in reverse order
• into reverse
• Quite the 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