reverse
rih-VURS
Reverse (adj) means Opposite in position, direction, or order. Example: “Read the list in reverse order, starting from the last item.”
adj
1
Opposite in position, direction, or order.
"Read the list in reverse order, starting from the last item."
"The reverse side of the card has the instructions printed on it."
"Drivers took the reverse route home to avoid the roadworks."
noun
1
The opposite of something; the other side.
"He expected praise, but the reverse happened and everyone criticised his plan."
"The reverse of the coin shows an eagle."
"Contrary to what you'd expect, the reverse turned out to be true."
2
The gear that makes a vehicle travel backward.
"She put the car in reverse and backed out of the driveway."
"Find the lever marked R to shift the van into reverse."
"The gearbox crunched loudly whenever he tried to select reverse."
verb
1
To move backward, or to turn something to face the opposite way.
"He reversed the car carefully into the tight parking space."
"The judge reversed the lower court's decision."
"She reversed the chair so that it faced the window."
How to use reverse
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishGoing or facing the opposite way — as a direction, a gear, a side of something, or an action that undoes a decision.
Common pairings
reverse gear
reverse a decision
the reverse is true
put it in reverse
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like reverse.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- reverses
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Read the list in _____ order, starting from the last item.
Etymology
From Anglo-Norman/Old French revers, from Latin reversus, the past participle of reverto, "to turn back".
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for reverse
verse
averse
inverse
adverse
diverse
immerse
universe
converse
perverse
disperse
traverse
multiverse
See all rhymes for 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.
Featured in
Vocabulary lists that include reverse:
