versus

B2 Topic:Grammar & Function Words

US /ˈvɝsəs/ UK /ˈvɜːsəs/ See IPA manual

prep verb Freq #5587

Meanings

1

prep
Against; used to show two sides competing or opposing each other.

Tonight's match is Brazil versus Argentina.
2

prep
Compared with; as opposed to.

We had to weigh the cost versus the benefits.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 prep · against; used to show two... vsvs.

Word family

Related forms convert evert invert subvert verse vertex

Etymology

From Middle English versus, borrowed from Latin versus (“facing”), past participle of vertere (“to turn, change, overthrow, destroy”).

*wert- Proto-Indo-European versus Middle English

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Grammar & Function Words

# versus

**Type:** Word
**Level:** B2
**Part of speech:** prep, verb
**IPA (US):** ˈvɝsəs
**IPA (UK):** ˈvɜːsəs
**Frequency rank:** 5587

## Meanings
1. Against; used to show two sides competing or opposing each other.
2. Compared with; as opposed to.

## Examples
- Tonight's match is Brazil versus Argentina.
- We had to weigh the cost versus the benefits.

## Related Forms
- convert
- evert
- invert
- subvert
- verse
- vertex

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *wert-
- Root: versus

## Etymology
From Middle English versus, borrowed from Latin versus (“facing”), past participle of vertere (“to turn, change, overthrow, destroy”).

## AI Etymology
Versus is from Middle English versus, borrowed from Latin versus (“facing”), past participle of vertere (“to turn, change, overthrow, destroy”). The historical line also includes Proto-Indo-European *wert-, Middle English versus, Latin versus. In present-day use, it can mean against; used to show two sides competing or opposing each other, or compared with; as opposed to.

## Topics
- Grammar & Function Words

markdown

versus

Meanings

Thesaurus

Etymology

Topics

Keyboard Shortcuts

General

Send feedback