English Dictionary

OPPOSITE

Pronunciation (US): Play  (GB): Play

IPA (US): 

 Dictionary entry overview: What does opposite mean? 

OPPOSITE (noun)
  The noun OPPOSITE has 4 senses:

1. a word that expresses a meaning opposed to the meaning of another word, in which case the two words are antonyms of each otherplay

2. a relation of direct oppositionplay

3. a contestant that you are matched againstplay

4. something inverted in sequence or character or effectplay

  Familiarity information: OPPOSITE used as a noun is uncommon.


OPPOSITE (adjective)
  The adjective OPPOSITE has 6 senses:

1. being directly across from each other; facingplay

2. of leaves etc; growing in pairs on either side of a stemplay

3. moving or facing away from each otherplay

4. the other one of a complementary pairplay

5. altogether different in nature or quality or significanceplay

6. characterized by opposite extremes; completely opposedplay

  Familiarity information: OPPOSITE used as an adjective is common.


OPPOSITE (adverb)
  The adverb OPPOSITE has 1 sense:

1. directly facing each otherplay

  Familiarity information: OPPOSITE used as an adverb is very rare.


 Dictionary entry details 


OPPOSITE (noun)


Sense 1

Meaning:

A word that expresses a meaning opposed to the meaning of another word, in which case the two words are antonyms of each other

Classified under:

Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents

Synonyms:

antonym; opposite; opposite word

Context example:

to him the antonym of 'gay' was 'depressed'

Hypernyms ("opposite" is a kind of...):

word (a unit of language that native speakers can identify)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "opposite"):

direct antonym (antonyms that are commonly associated (e.g., 'wet' and 'dry'))

indirect antonym (antonyms whose opposition is mediated (e.g., the antonymy of 'wet' and 'parched' is mediated by the similarity of 'parched' to 'dry'))


Sense 2

Meaning:

A relation of direct opposition

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Synonyms:

contrary; opposite; reverse

Context example:

we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true

Hypernyms ("opposite" is a kind of...):

oppositeness; opposition (the relation between opposed entities)


Sense 3

Meaning:

A contestant that you are matched against

Classified under:

Nouns denoting people

Synonyms:

opponent; opposite; opposition

Hypernyms ("opposite" is a kind of...):

contestant (a person who participates in competitions)


Sense 4

Meaning:

Something inverted in sequence or character or effect

Classified under:

Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas

Synonyms:

inverse; opposite

Context example:

when the direct approach failed he tried the inverse

Hypernyms ("opposite" is a kind of...):

oppositeness; opposition (the relation between opposed entities)

Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "opposite"):

additive inverse ((mathematics) one of a pair of numbers whose sum is zero; the additive inverse of -5 is +5)

multiplicative inverse; reciprocal ((mathematics) one of a pair of numbers whose product is 1: the reciprocal of 2/3 is 3/2; the multiplicative inverse of 7 is 1/7)


OPPOSITE (adjective)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Being directly across from each other; facing

Context example:

at opposite poles

Similar:

other (not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied)


Sense 2

Meaning:

Of leaves etc; growing in pairs on either side of a stem

Synonyms:

opposite; paired

Context example:

opposite leaves

Domain category:

botany; phytology (the branch of biology that studies plants)

Antonym:

alternate (of leaves and branches etc; first on one side and then on the other in two ranks along an axis; not paired)


Sense 3

Meaning:

Moving or facing away from each other

Context example:

they went in opposite directions

Similar:

other (not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied)


Sense 4

Meaning:

The other one of a complementary pair

Context example:

the two chess kings are set up on squares of opposite colors

Similar:

other (not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied)


Sense 5

Meaning:

Altogether different in nature or quality or significance

Context example:

it is said that opposite characters make a union happiest

Similar:

different (unlike in nature or quality or form or degree)

Derivation:

oppositeness (the relation between opposed entities)


Sense 6

Meaning:

Characterized by opposite extremes; completely opposed

Synonyms:

diametric; diametrical; opposite; polar

Context example:

extreme and indefensible polar positions

Similar:

different (unlike in nature or quality or form or degree)

Derivation:

oppositeness (the relation between opposed entities)


OPPOSITE (adverb)


Sense 1

Meaning:

Directly facing each other

Synonyms:

face-to-face; face to face; opposite

Context example:

they sat opposite at the table


 Context examples 


The occurrence of Delftia in the queen’s mouth and gut rose or fell opposite to the levels of bacteria considered beneficial.

(Species Shifts in the Honey Bee Microbiome Differ with Age and Hive Role, U.S. Department of Agriculture)

The two men had stopped opposite the window.

(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

“As she is going in the opposite direction, she is very probably bound for San Francisco.”

(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)

It shows just the opposite, with few toxic agents compared to epithelial cells.

(Brazil scientists discover Zika virus inhibitor, Agência Brasil)

Her face is right opposite, and it looks so sweet behind the flowers, I can't help watching it.

(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)

In a study carried out during a simulated mission to Mars, an international group of scientists has found exactly the opposite to be true.

(Salty Diet Makes You Hungry, Not Thirsty, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

A projection or prominence opposite the tragus that is found on the lower exterior portion of the ear.

(Antitragus, NCI Thesaurus)

The superior portion of the heart located opposite to the apical portion.

(Base of the Heart, NCI Thesaurus)

The opposite of a blinded study is an open label study.

(Blinded Clinical Study, NCI Dictionary)

The portion of the bladder that is formed by the posterior wall and is located opposite to the bladder opening.

(Bladder Fundus, NCI Thesaurus)



 Learn English with... Proverbs 
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"Barking dogs don't bite." (Dutch proverb)



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