REVERSE

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

IPA (US):

 Dictionary entry overview: What does reverse mean? 

• REVERSE (noun)
  The noun REVERSE has 6 senses:

1. a relation of direct opposition

2. the gears by which the motion of a machine can be reversed

3. an unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating

4. the side of a coin or medal that does not bear the principal design

5. (American football) a running play in which a back running in one direction hands the ball to a back running in the opposite direction

6. turning in the opposite direction

  Familiarity information: REVERSE used as a noun is common.

• REVERSE (adjective)
  The adjective REVERSE has 3 senses:

1. directed or moving toward the rear

2. of the transmission gear causing backward movement in a motor vehicle

3. reversed (turned backward) in order or nature or effect

  Familiarity information: REVERSE used as an adjective is uncommon.

• REVERSE (verb)
  The verb REVERSE has 5 senses:

1. change to the contrary

2. turn inside out or upside down

3. rule against

4. cancel officially

5. reverse the position, order, relation, or condition of

  Familiarity information: REVERSE used as a verb is common.

 Dictionary entry details 

• REVERSE (noun)

Sense 1

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 ("reverse" is a kind of...):

oppositeness; opposition (the relation between opposed entities)

Derivation:

reverse (change to the contrary)

reverse (cancel officially)

reverse (reversed (turned backward) in order or nature or effect)

Sense 2

Meaning:

The gears by which the motion of a machine can be reversed

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

reverse; reverse gear

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

gear; gear mechanism (a mechanism for transmitting motion for some specific purpose (as the steering gear of a vehicle))

Holonyms ("reverse" is a part of...):

auto; automobile; car; machine; motorcar (a motor vehicle with four wheels; usually propelled by an internal combustion engine)

Derivation:

reverse (of the transmission gear causing backward movement in a motor vehicle)

Sense 3

Meaning:

An unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating

Classified under:

Nouns denoting natural events

Synonyms:

black eye; blow; reversal; reverse; setback

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

happening; natural event; occurrence; occurrent (an event that happens)

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

whammy (a serious or devastating setback)

Sense 4

Meaning:

The side of a coin or medal that does not bear the principal design

Classified under:

Nouns denoting man-made objects

Synonyms:

reverse; verso

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

side (an extended outer surface of an object)

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

tail ((usually plural) the reverse side of a coin that does not bear the representation of a person's head)

Holonyms ("reverse" is a part of...):

coin (a flat metal piece (usually a disc) used as money)

Antonym:

obverse (the side of a coin or medal bearing the principal stamp or design)

Sense 5

Meaning:

(American football) a running play in which a back running in one direction hands the ball to a back running in the opposite direction

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

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

run; running; running game; running play ((American football) a play in which a player attempts to carry the ball through or past the opposing team)

Domain category:

American football; American football game (a game played by two teams of 11 players on a rectangular field 100 yards long; teams try to get possession of the ball and advance it across the opponents goal line in a series of (running or passing) plays)

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

double reverse ((American football) a running play in which a first reverse is followed by a second reverse)

Sense 6

Meaning:

Turning in the opposite direction

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

reversal; reverse; reversion; turnabout; turnaround

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

change of direction; reorientation (the act of changing the direction in which something is oriented)

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

u-turn (complete reversal of direction of travel)

about-face; about turn (act of pivoting 180 degrees, especially in a military formation)

Derivation:

reverse (turn inside out or upside down)

reverse (reversed (turned backward) in order or nature or effect)

reverse (change to the contrary)

• REVERSE (adjective)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Directed or moving toward the rear

Synonyms:

rearward; reverse

Context example:

a rearward movement

Similar:

backward (directed or facing toward the back or rear)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Of the transmission gear causing backward movement in a motor vehicle

Context example:

in reverse gear

Antonym:

forward (of the transmission gear causing forward movement in a motor vehicle)

Derivation:

reverse (the gears by which the motion of a machine can be reversed)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Reversed (turned backward) in order or nature or effect

Synonyms:

inverse; reverse

Similar:

backward (directed or facing toward the back or rear)

Derivation:

reverse (turning in the opposite direction)

reverse (a relation of direct opposition)

• REVERSE (verb)

Present simple: I / you / we / they reverse    ... he / she / it reverses   
Past simple: reversed   
Past participle: reversed   
-ing form: reversing   

Sense 1

Meaning:

Change to the contrary

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

change by reversal; reverse; turn

Context example:

public opinion turned when it was revealed that the president had an affair with a White House intern

Hypernyms (to "reverse" is one way to...):

change (undergo a change; become different in essence; losing one's or its original nature)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "reverse"):

exchange; switch; switch over (change over, change around, as to a new order or sequence)

undo (cancel, annul, or reverse an action or its effect)

deconsecrate; desecrate; unhallow (remove the consecration from a person or an object)

desynchronise; desynchronize (cause to become desynchronized; cause to occur at unrelated times)

regress; retrovert; return; revert; turn back (go back to a previous state)

metamorphose; transfigure; transmogrify (change completely the nature or appearance of)

commute; permute; transpose (change the order or arrangement of)

falsify (falsify knowingly)

correct; rectify; right (make right or correct)

commutate (reverse the direction of (an alternating electric current) each half cycle so as to produce a unidirectional current)

turn the tables; turn the tide (cause a complete reversal of the circumstances)

alternate; flip; flip-flop; interchange; switch; tack (reverse (a direction, attitude, or course of action))

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Somebody ----s something
Something ----s somebody
Something ----s something

Derivation:

reversal (a change from one state to the opposite state)

reverse (turning in the opposite direction)

reverse (a relation of direct opposition)

reversible (capable of being reversed)

Sense 2

Meaning:

Turn inside out or upside down

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

invert; reverse; turn back

Hypernyms (to "reverse" is one way to...):

alter; change; modify (cause to change; make different; cause a transformation)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

reversal (turning in the opposite direction)

reversible (capable of being reversed or used with either side out)

reverse (turning in the opposite direction)

reversal (turning in an opposite direction or position)

Sense 3

Meaning:

Rule against

Classified under:

Verbs of thinking, judging, analyzing, doubting

Synonyms:

override; overrule; overthrow; overturn; reverse

Context example:

The Republicans were overruled when the House voted on the bill

Hypernyms (to "reverse" is one way to...):

decree; rule (decide with authority)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

reversal (a judgment by a higher court that the judgment of a lower court was incorrect and should be set aside)

Sense 4

Meaning:

Cancel officially

Classified under:

Verbs of telling, asking, ordering, singing

Synonyms:

annul; countermand; lift; overturn; repeal; rescind; reverse; revoke; vacate

Context example:

vacate a death sentence

Hypernyms (to "reverse" is one way to...):

cancel; strike down (declare null and void; make ineffective)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "reverse"):

go back on; renege; renege on; renegue on (fail to fulfill a promise or obligation)

Sentence frames:

Somebody ----s something
Something ----s something

Derivation:

reversal (a decision to reverse an earlier decision)

reverse (a relation of direct opposition)

reversible (capable of being reversed)

Sense 5

Meaning:

Reverse the position, order, relation, or condition of

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Synonyms:

invert; reverse

Context example:

when forming a question, invert the subject and the verb

Hypernyms (to "reverse" is one way to...):

reorder (assign a new order to)

Sentence frame:

Somebody ----s something

 Context examples 

Now that we understand how EBV infection may contribute to autoimmune diseases in some people, researchers may be able to develop therapies that interrupt or reverse this process.

(Epstein-Barr virus protein can “switch on” risk genes for autoimmune diseases, National Institutes of Health)

Many questions remain, such as if this process is replicated in human brains, and if catching up on sleep can reverse the damage.

(Lack of Sleep Makes Brain to Literally Eat Itself, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

A study comparing low- and high-glycemic index diets found no significant difference between the two plans in reducing cardiovascular risk or reversing insulin resistance.

(Low-glycemic diets may not improve cardiovascular outcomes when compared to high-glycemic diets, NIH)

This reduced blood flow can eventually lead to impaired cognition that could be reversed by changing back to a normal diet.

(Hold the salt: gut reaction may impair the brains of mice, National Institutes of Health)

"However, we don’t yet know how exposures and lifestyle factors may affect biologic age or whether this process can be reversed."

(Older biologic age linked to elevated breast cancer risk, National Institutes of Health)

They found that both drugs were effective in activating OPCs to enhance myelination and reverse paralysis.

(Drugs that activate brain stem cells may reverse multiple sclerosis, NIH)

“The paper is thin, and the reverse will give the message. Here it is.”

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

By doing the reverse, the researchers were able to make nanosized objects.

(Researchers Use Laser to Shrink Objects to Nanoscale, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

Researchers have found that manipulating a single RNA molecule may be enough to reverse cellular aging.

(Scientists Discover Molecule that Could Reverse Cellular Aging, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)

I have great hopes of finding him quite the reverse.

(Pride and Prejudice, by Jane Austen)