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reverse

reverse

32 3.9
Opposite to what is usual or expected
  • adjective
  • /rɪˈvɜrs/
translation icon : inverso
  • Approaching it in the reverse way can be more difficult.
  • in reverse order
  • in reverse chronological order
  • the reverse direction

Oh, you know, in a weird, in a weird reverse society, right?

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Examples

  • You said we were doing reverse alphabetical order this time.

  • We'll look at it with the reverse angle one more time.

  • It's a very reverse kind of view of the world.

  • Looks like you have a reverse mortgage.

  • It's funny how some gals know just when to use reverse English.

  • Furthermore, his name is quite clearly inscribed upon the reverse side of the case back.

  • We’ll shoot these scenes in reverse order... in the unlikely event that we stop to build emotionally.

  • She took a reverse approach to problem-solving by considering the opposite perspective.

  • The instructions for assembly were in reverse order, making it more confusing than necessary.

  • After the accident, we had to backtrack in reverse directions to find our way home.

Synonyms

102 3.2

In the opposite order, direction, or situation

is a general contrary to expectation rather than only swapped order
inverse
vsreverse
  • Specialized
17 6.1

Opposite in effect or direction, where one thing increases while the other decreases

is about being opposite in position or direction rather than relational change
rearward
vsreverse
1 7.0

Located at or pointing toward the back of something

involves being contrary to the usual or directed backward, not just location
reversed
vsreverse
3.4

Turned the other way or placed in the opposite order

is contrary to what is usual or directed backward
inverted
vsreverse
4.8

Placed or turned so the top and bottom are swapped

is about being contrary or directed backward not just top-bottom exchange
overturned
vsreverse
3.6

Turned so the top is on the bottom

is about opposition or backward direction without implying full flipping
reversive
vsreverse
  • Specialized
9.9

Tending to make something return to an earlier state

focuses on being opposite or backward at a moment rather than ongoing tendency
retroverted
vsreverse
  • Archaic
9.9

Moved back to an earlier position or state

is the common modern idea of being opposite or directed backward

Antonyms

1.0

Happening most of the time in a normal way

Compounds

reverse gear
  • Specialized
1 3.7

A gear in a vehicle that makes it move backwards

reverse osmosis
  • Specialized
1 4.5

A process that makes water clean by forcing it through a thin layer to stop salt and dirt

double reverse
  • Specialized
1 8.2

A running play in American football where the ball is handed twice, each time changing direction

reverse transcriptase
  • Specialized
1 6.3

An enzyme that makes DNA from RNA, often used by viruses like HIV

A drug that stops HIV changing its genetic material and is used with other medicines

An HIV drug that joins viral DNA and stops the enzyme that copies the virus

reverse fault
  • Specialized
8.3

A break in rock where one side moves up when the land is pushed together

A body position with arms stretched backward while the body is held by a bar above

reverse lightning
  • Specialized
9.9

A rare electric flash that travels upward from storm clouds

9.8

A tendency to make everything a person touches fail

9.5

A way to write math with numbers before the sign so no parentheses

reverse split
  • Specialized
8.2

Reduce the number of a company's shares so each share is worth more without changing total investment value

reverse stock split
  • Specialized
7.9

A company action that combines its shares so each is worth more but the total value stays the same

A drug that stops an enzyme viruses like HIV use to copy their genes

reverse trap
  • Informal
9.1

A trick that backfires and harms the person who set it

9.9

A position on rings where a gymnast hangs upside down with hips bent and legs straight

Surface Forms

reverse positive

Morphology

reverse = verse (semi-transparent) = re + verse

Adjectival sense 'turned/backwards' aligns with the compositional re- + -verse, but speakers may not readily identify '-verse' as an independent root.

Etymology

Reverse comes from the Latin parts re- ('back') and vertere ('to turn'), so it means 'turned back' or opposite. That is why we use reverse as an adjective for a situation or side that is the other way around.