reverse
6 synonyms and 2 antonyms for reverse, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.
Adj — Opposite in position, direction, or order.
Synonyms
Everyday swaps
Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.
Less common
Still standard English, but they carry more weight.
Antonyms
How to use reverse
The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman/Old French revers, from Latin reversus, the past participle of reverto, "to turn back".
Full origin of reverse →Frequently asked questions
What does “reverse” mean?
The word “reverse” means opposite in position, direction, or order. In plain terms, going or facing the opposite way — as a direction, a gear, a side of something, or an action that undoes a decision.
How do you pronounce “reverse”?
“Reverse” is pronounced rih-VURS (/ɹɪˈvɝs/ in IPA).
How do you use “reverse” in a sentence?
Here is “reverse” used in a sentence: “Read the list in reverse order, starting from the last item.”
What is the opposite of “reverse”?
The opposite of “reverse” — its antonyms — are normal and obverse.
What part of speech is “reverse”?
Depending on how it is used, “reverse” can be an adjective, a noun and a verb.
Where does the word “reverse” come from?
The word “reverse” comes from Latin. From Anglo-Norman/Old French revers, from Latin reversus, the past participle of reverto, "to turn back".
Is “reverse” a common word?
“Reverse” is a fairly common word in modern English, usually learned at around the B2 level.
How many meanings does “reverse” have?
“Reverse” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: opposite in position, direction, or order.
What is the difference between reverse and inverse?
"Reverse" means opposite in position, direction, or order, and is the everyday word: reverse gear, reverse order. "Inverse" is more technical, describing things related as opposites in mathematics or logic, such as an inverse relationship in which one value rises as the other falls.
What is the difference between reverse and opposite?
"Opposite" is the general word for something completely different in nature, direction, or position. "Reverse" specifically suggests the same thing turned the other way around — the reverse order is the same list backwards, and the reverse of a decision undoes it.
What is the reverse of a coin?
The reverse is the back of a coin — informally, the "tails" side — as opposed to the obverse, the front or "heads" side. This use reflects the noun sense of reverse as the other side of something.