opposite
20 synonyms and 1 antonyms for opposite, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adjective — Located directly across from something, or facing the other direction.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Rare, literary or technical
Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.
Antonyms
How to use opposite
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Old French oposite, from Latin oppositus, the past participle of opponere, "to set against" — related to "oppose."
Full origin of opposite →Frequently asked questions
What does “opposite” mean?
The word “opposite” means located directly across from something, or facing the other direction. In plain terms, facing something from across, or being the exact reverse of it.
How do you pronounce “opposite”?
“Opposite” is pronounced OP-uh-ziht (/ˈɑ.pə.sɪt/ in IPA).
How do you use “opposite” in a sentence?
Here is “opposite” used in a sentence: “They live on opposite sides of the street.”
What is another word for “opposite”?
Words with a similar meaning to “opposite” include antipodean, antithetical, contrariant, contradictory, contrariwise and contrary.
What is the opposite of “opposite”?
The opposite of “opposite” — its antonyms — is identical.
What part of speech is “opposite”?
Depending on how it is used, “opposite” can be an adjective, a noun and a preposition.
Where does the word “opposite” come from?
The word “opposite” comes from Latin. From Old French oposite, from Latin oppositus, the past participle of opponere, "to set against" — related to "oppose.".
Is “opposite” a common word?
“Opposite” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
What is the difference between opposite and adjacent?
Opposite means directly across from something, facing it from the other side; adjacent means next to or beside it. In a room, the opposite wall faces you, while an adjacent wall meets it at a corner. In geometry the terms describe an angle's far side versus its neighbouring side.
What is the difference between opposite and reverse?
Opposite describes position — located across from, or facing the other way. Reverse describes direction or order turned backward, as in reverse gear or reverse the sequence. They overlap when facing the other direction, but reverse stresses undoing or inverting, while opposite stresses being across from or contrary to something.
What is an example of opposite?
If you sit across a table from someone, you sit opposite them. Two shops facing each other across a street are on opposite sides. A person walking the other way is heading in the opposite direction. In each case, opposite marks a position directly across or a facing, contrary orientation.