reverse

B2 Topic:Space, Position & Direction

US /ɹɪˈvɝs/ UK /ɹɪˈvɜːs/ See IPA manual

adj noun verb adv Freq #4336

Meanings

1

verb
To change something to the opposite of what it was.

The new manager reversed many of the old policies.
2

adj
Opposite in direction, order, or position.

We ate the meal in reverse order, starting with dessert.
3

noun
The opposite of something.

Division is the reverse of multiplication.
4

noun
The gear that makes a vehicle move backwards.

He put the car into reverse and backed out of the driveway.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to change something to the... turn

3 noun · the opposite of something. opposite

Opposites

normalnormalisenormalize obverseunreverse

Word family

Forms reversedreversesreversingreverst

Derived forms autoreversenonreversereversablereversalreverse-chargereverse-commutereverse-dowryreverse-engineerreverse-pickpocketreverse-searreversefulreverseless

Common collocations

reverse a decision Verb + noun

Etymology

From Middle English revers, from Anglo-Norman revers, Middle French revers, and their source, Latin reversus, perfect passive participle of reversō, from re- + versō. Doublet of revers.

*wert- Proto-Indo-European revers Middle English reversus Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Space, Position & Direction

# reverse

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** adj, noun, verb, adv
**IPA (US):** ɹɪˈvɝs
**IPA (UK):** ɹɪˈvɜːs
**Frequency rank:** 4336

## Meanings
1. To change something to the opposite of what it was.
2. Opposite in direction, order, or position.
3. The opposite of something.
4. The gear that makes a vehicle move backwards.

## Examples
- The new manager reversed many of the old policies.
- We ate the meal in reverse order, starting with dessert.
- Division is the reverse of multiplication.
- He put the car into reverse and backed out of the driveway.

## Antonyms
- normal
- normalise
- normalize
- obverse
- unreverse

## Derived Forms
- autoreverse
- nonreverse
- reversable
- reversal
- reverse-charge
- reverse-commute
- reverse-dowry
- reverse-engineer
- reverse-pickpocket
- reverse-sear
- reverseful
- reverseless

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *wert-
- Root: revers
- Root: reversus

## Etymology
From Middle English revers, from Anglo-Norman revers, Middle French revers, and their source, Latin reversus, perfect passive participle of reversō, from re- + versō. Doublet of revers.

## AI Etymology
Reverse comes from Middle English revers, from Anglo-Norman revers, Middle French revers, and their source, Latin reversus, perfect passive participle of reversō, from re- + versō. Doublet of revers. Modern senses include to change something to the opposite of what it was. and opposite in direction, order, or position.. The wider word family includes derivatives such as autoreverse, nonreverse, reversable, reversal, reverse-charge, and reverse-commute.

## Topics
- Space, Position & Direction

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