REVERSE | Definition and Meaning

Definition of Reverse

Reverse

re·verse

Definition/Meaning

(noun)

the direct opposite to something already stated, the complete contrary;

e.g. He said that the reverse of my words was closer to the truth.

(noun)

the action or instance of completely changing the direction of a movement or action;

e.g. He completed his reverse of the car without hitting the wall.

(noun)

a defeat or challenge, something that causes one's progress to be slowed, stopped, or undone;

e.g. The economy's growth suffered a reverse due to the natural disasters affecting the country.

(noun)

the back/read part or side of something or someone, the side that faces away from an observer;

e.g. Make sure you check the reverse of the form and fill out all of the questions.

(verb)

to move in the backward direction, or to cause something to do this;

e.g. She decided to reverse from the narrow path to let the large group pass.

(verb)

to turn something over so that its inside, underside, or back is exposed;

e.g. Make sure you reverse the shirt before washing it to protect the decorations.

(verb)

broadly, to change something so that it is the opposite of what it was, especially in terms of direction or position, or to exchange the functions or roles of two people or things;

e.g. She tried to reverse the effects of her decision. He agreed to exchange roles for the week because he had more free time.

(verb)

to undo something or declare it to be void, especially to take back a legal decision or judgement or to issue an opposing decision/judgement to negate an earlier one;

e.g. The court agreed to reverse the sentence if the criminal did a certain amount of community service.

(adjective)

contrary or opposite to what is normal or already stated, especially behaving or occurring in a way that is the opposite of what was expected or usual;

e.g. This technique had the reverse effect of what I had predicted. They used a reverse approach to the problem, but got the correct answer anyway.