Opposite is used to describe things of the same kind which are completely different in a particular way. For example, north and south are opposite directions, and winning and losing are opposite results in a game.
All the cars driving in the opposite direction had their headlights on.
I should have written the notes in the opposite order.
In fact everything he does is opposite to what is considered normal behaviour.
Synonyms: different, conflicting, opposed, contrasted More Synonyms of opposite
4. countable noun
Theoppositeof someone or something is the person or thing that is most different from them.
Ritter was a very complex man but Marius was the opposite, a simple farmer.
Well, whatever he says, you can bet he's thinking the opposite.
Synonyms: reverse, contrary, converse, antithesis More Synonyms of opposite
More Synonyms of opposite
opposite in British English
(ˈɒpəzɪt, -sɪt)
adjective
1.
situated or being on the other side or at each side of something between
their houses were at opposite ends of the street
2.
facing or going in contrary directions
opposite ways
3.
diametrically different in character, tendency, belief, etc
opposite views
4. botany
a.
(of leaves, flowers, etc) arranged in pairs on either side of the stem
b.
(of parts of a flower) arranged opposite the middle of another part
5. mathematics
a.
(of two vertices or sides in an even-sided polygon) separated by the same number of vertices or sides in both a clockwise and anticlockwise direction
b.
(of a side in a triangle) facing a specified angle
Abbreviation: opp
noun
6.
a person or thing that is opposite; antithesis
7. mathematics
the side facing a specified angle in a right-angled triangle
8. a rare word for opponent
preposition
9. Also: opposite to
facing; corresponding to (something on the other side of a division)
the house opposite ours
10.
as a co-star with
she played opposite Alec Baldwin on Broadway
adverb
11.
on opposite sides
she lives opposite
Derived forms
oppositely (ˈoppositely)
adverb
oppositeness (ˈoppositeness)
noun
opposite in American English
(ˈɑpəzɪt; ˈɑpəsɪt)
adjective
1.
set against, facing, or back to back; at the other end or side; in a contrary position or direction
often with to
2.
characterized by hostility or resistance
3.
different in every way; exactly contrary; antithetical
4. Botany
a.
growing in pairs, but separated by a stem
b.
having one part on the same radius as another, as a stamen in front of a petal
noun
5.
anything opposed or opposite
adverb
6.
on opposing sides or in an opposite position
preposition
7.
facing; across from
8. Theatre
in a complementary role (of the opposite sex) to
he played opposite her
SYNONYMY NOTE: opposite is applied to things that are symmetrically opposed in position, direction, etc.[they sat at opposite ends of the table]; contrary adds to this connotations of conflict or antagonism [they hold contrary views]; antithetical implies diametrical opposition so that the contrasted things are as far apart oras different as is possible [our interests are completely antithetical]; reverse applies to that which moves or faces in the opposite direction [the reverse side of a fabric]; antonymous is used specifically of words that are so opposed in meaning that each contradicts,reverses, or negates the other [good and bad are antonymous terms]
OPPOSITES: same, identical, like
Derived forms
oppositely (ˈoppositely)
adverb
oppositeness (ˈoppositeness)
noun
Word origin
OFr < L oppositus, pp. of opponere: see opponent
Examples of 'opposite' in a sentence
opposite
The centre of opinion is always moving in the opposite direction from the policy of the government.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The system has made us see things as the opposite of what they actually are.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It means opponents have to decide whether to stay in their position or follow their opposite number.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It also means the opposite can happen.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Luck links friends who live on opposite sides of the world.
The Sun (2016)
Opposite one another are two glass cases of stuffed mammals.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
My experience in America this summer was just the opposite.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
She probably knew the exact opposite was true, though.
The Sun (2017)
Something precisely the opposite of enjoyable, but which you have to do, despite the pain.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Yet the opposite could also be true.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Yet the people of both sections did just the opposite.
Garraty, John Arthur The American Nation: A History of the United States to 1877 (1995)
Why not nudge people in the opposite direction?
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The shopkeeper had lived with his family in a detached house opposite the store for six years.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
You can imagine with the hotel sweeping across opposite the pavilion side it will look terrific.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The pattern runs in the opposite direction.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The process is the opposite of the one a musician goes through.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
What they need to do is the complete opposite of these things.
Jan Fennell, Foreword by Monty Roberts THE DOG LISTENER: Learning the Language of your Best Friend (2002)
It is a partnership game and you play with the person sitting opposite.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The implication being that our expectation would be for something quite the opposite?
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The time difference meant that they would speak to one another at opposite ends of the day.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The path led him right along to the lake shore on the opposite side of the island.
Kerr, Katharine A Time of War (1993)
The man opposite me does not move.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The opposite is also seen to have a negative effect.
Chaitow, Leon The Beat Fatigue Workbook - how to identify the causes (1988)
Get acquainted with your opposite number.
Kiam, Victor Going For It!: How to Succeed As an Entrepreneur (1986)
In reality the opposite was true.
Susie Gilbert and Jay Shir A TALE OF FOUR HOUSES: Opera at Covent Garden, La Scala, Vienna and the Met since1945 (2003)
But there's a downside to her fame as she juggles two very different lives on opposite sides of the world.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
Different people deal with it in different, sometimes opposite, ways.
Christianity Today (2000)
Quotations
Opposites attract
In other languages
opposite
British English: opposite /ˈɒpəzɪt; -sɪt/ ADJECTIVE
far The opposite side or part of something is the side or part that is furthest away from you.
...the opposite corner of the room.
American English: opposite
Arabic: مُضَادٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: oposto
Chinese: 对面的
Croatian: suprotan
Czech: protější
Danish: modsat
Dutch: tegenoverliggend
European Spanish: de enfrente
Finnish: vastakkainen
French: opposé
German: gegenüberliegend
Greek: αντίθετος
Italian: opposto
Japanese: 向かい側の
Korean: 반대쪽의
Norwegian: motsatt
Polish: przeciwległy
European Portuguese: oposto
Romanian: opus
Russian: противоположный
Latin American Spanish: de enfrente
Swedish: motsatt
Thai: ที่อยู่ตรงกันข้าม
Turkish: karşıt
Ukrainian: протилежний
Vietnamese: ngược nhau
British English: opposite /ˈɒpəzɪt; -sɪt/ ADVERB
If one thing is opposite another, it is facing it.
I live directly opposite.
American English: opposite
Arabic: مُوَاجِهٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: em frente
Chinese: 在对面
Croatian: nasuprot
Czech: naproti
Danish: overfor
Dutch: tegenover
European Spanish: enfrente
Finnish: vastapäätä
French: en face
German: gegenüber
Greek: αντίκρυ
Italian: di fronte
Japanese: 向かい側に
Korean: 반대편에
Norwegian: rett overfor
Polish: naprzeciwko
European Portuguese: em frente
Romanian: vizavi
Russian: напротив
Latin American Spanish: enfrente
Swedish: mitt emot
Thai: ที่อยู่คนละด้าน
Turkish: karşılıklı
Ukrainian: навпроти
Vietnamese: đối diện
British English: opposite /ˈɒpəzɪt; -sɪt/ PREPOSITION
If one thing is opposite another, it is across from it.
American English: across from
Arabic: مُوَاجِهٌ
Brazilian Portuguese: em frente de
Chinese: 在...对面
Croatian: na drugoj strani
Czech: proti naproti
Danish: over for
Dutch: tegenover
European Spanish: enfrente de
Finnish: vastapäätä
French: en face de
German: gegenüber
Greek: απέναντι από
Italian: di fronte a
Japanese: ･･･の向かい側に
Korean: ...의 맞은편에
Norwegian: midt imot
Polish: naprzeciwko
European Portuguese: em frente de
Romanian: vizavi
Russian: напротив
Latin American Spanish: enfrente de
Swedish: mitt emot
Thai: ตรงข้าม
Turkish: karşısında
Ukrainian: навпроти
Vietnamese: đối diện
British English: opposite /ˈɒpəzɪt; -sɪt/ ADJECTIVE
completely different If things are opposite, they are as different as they can be.
We watched the cars driving in the opposite direction.
American English: opposite
Arabic: مُعَاكِس
Brazilian Portuguese: contrário
Chinese: 相反的
Croatian: suprotan
Czech: opačný
Danish: modsat
Dutch: tegenovergesteld
European Spanish: opuesto
Finnish: vastakkainen
French: contraireopposé
German: engegengesetzt
Greek: αντίθετος
Italian: opposto
Japanese: 反対の
Korean: 맞은편의
Norwegian: motsatt
Polish: przeciwstawny
European Portuguese: oposto
Romanian: opus
Russian: противоположный
Latin American Spanish: opuesto
Swedish: motsatt
Thai: ตรงกันข้าม
Turkish: aksi
Ukrainian: протилежний
Vietnamese: trái ngược
British English: opposite NOUN
The opposite of someone or something is the person or thing that is most different from them.
He was a very complex man, but his friend was the opposite, a simple farmer.
American English: opposite
Brazilian Portuguese: contrário
Chinese: 正好相反的人或事物
European Spanish: lo contrario
French: opposé
German: Gegenteil
Italian: opposto
Japanese: 正反対の人
Korean: 정반대
European Portuguese: contrário
Latin American Spanish: lo contrario
Chinese translation of 'opposite'
opposite
(ˈɔpəzɪt)
adj
(= facing)[side, house]对(對)面的 (duìmiàn de)
(= farthest)[end, corner]最远(遠)的 (zuì yuǎn de)
(= contrary)[meaning, direction]相反的 (xiāngfǎn de)
adv
[live, work, sit]在对(對)面 (zài duìmiàn)
prep
(= across from) 在 ... 的对(對)面 (zài ... de duìmiàn)
(= corresponding to) (on list, form etc) 对(對)应(應) (duìyìng)
n
the opposite对(對)立面 (duìlìmiàn)
the opposite sex异(異)性 (yìxìng)
1 (adjective)
Definition
facing or going in contrary directions
the opposite side of the room
Synonyms
facing
The facing page gives a number of questions for you to answer.
other
opposing
I have a friend who holds the opposing view.
2 (adjective)
Definition
completely different
Everything he does is opposite to what is considered normal behaviour.
Synonyms
different
We have totally different views.
conflicting
There are conflicting reports on the severity of his injuries.
opposed
contrasted
contrasting
unlike
differing
contrary
His sister was of the contrary opinion to his.
diverse
Their attitudes were refreshingly diverse.
adverse
at odds
contradictory
He seems to be capable of holding a number of apparently contradictory attitudes.
inconsistent
The outburst was inconsistent with the image he had cultivated.
dissimilar
Their styles are not so dissimilar.
divergent
two people who have divergent views
irreconcilable
their irreconcilable points of view
at variance
poles apart
diametrically opposed
antithetical
The oppressive use of power is antithetical to our ideals.
streets apart
Opposites
like
,
same
,
similar
,
matching
,
uniform
,
consistent
,
identical
,
alike
,
corresponding
3 (adjective)
They fought on opposite sides during the War of Independence.
Synonyms
rival
conflicting
opposed
people with views almost diametrically opposed to his own
opposing
The leader said he still favoured a dialogue between the opposing sides.
competing
hostile
hostile to the idea of foreign intervention
antagonistic
Nearly all the women were antagonistic to the idea.
inimical
a false morality that is inimical to human happiness
(preposition)
Definition
facing
She sat opposite her at breakfast.
Synonyms
facing
fronting
face to face with
across from
eyeball to eyeball with (informal)
(noun)
Definition
a person or thing that is opposite
She's very shy, but her sister is quite the opposite.
Synonyms
reverse
There is absolutely no evidence. Quite the reverse.
contrary
Let me assure you that the contrary is, in fact, the case.
converse
If that is true, the converse is equally so.
antithesis
She is the antithesis of the typical artist.
the other extreme
contradiction
What he does is a contradiction of what he says.
inverse
There is no sign that you bothered to consider the inverse of your logic.
the other side of the coin (informal)
obverse
proverb
Opposites attract
Additional synonyms
in the sense of antagonistic
Nearly all the women were antagonistic to the idea.
Synonyms
hostile,
opposed,
resistant,
at odds,
incompatible,
set against,
averse,
unfriendly,
at variance,
inimical,
antipathetic,
ill-disposed
in the sense of antithesis
Definition
the exact opposite
She is the antithesis of the typical artist.
Synonyms
opposite,
contrast,
reverse,
contrary,
converse,
inverse,
antipode
in the sense of antithetical
The oppressive use of power is antithetical to our ideals.
Synonyms
opposite,
opposed,
contrasted,
contrasting,
counter,
reverse,
contrary,
contradictory,
converse,
inverse,
poles apart,
antipodal
Synonyms of 'opposite'
opposite
Explore 'opposite' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of conflicting
There are conflicting reports on the severity of his injuries.
Synonyms
incompatible,
opposed,
opposing,
clashing,
contrary,
adverse,
contradictory,
inconsistent,
paradoxical,
discordant
in the sense of contradiction
What he does is a contradiction of what he says.
Synonyms
negation,
opposite,
denial,
antithesis
in the sense of contradictory
Definition
(of facts or statements) inconsistent
He seems to be capable of holding a number of apparently contradictory attitudes.
Synonyms
inconsistent,
conflicting,
opposed,
opposite,
contrary,
incompatible,
paradoxical,
irreconcilable,
antithetical,
discrepant
in the sense of contrary
Definition
opposed
His sister was of the contrary opinion to his.
Synonyms
opposite,
different,
opposed,
clashing,
counter,
reverse,
differing,
adverse,
contradictory,
inconsistent,
diametrically opposed,
antithetical
in the sense of contrary
Let me assure you that the contrary is, in fact, the case.
Synonyms
opposite,
reverse,
converse,
antithesis
in the sense of converse
Definition
a statement or idea that is the opposite of another
If that is true, the converse is equally so.
Synonyms
opposite,
reverse,
contrary,
other side of the coin,
obverse,
antithesis
in the sense of dissimilar
Definition
not alike
Their styles are not so dissimilar.
Synonyms
different,
contrasting,
unlike,
various,
varied,
diverse,
assorted,
unrelated,
disparate,
miscellaneous,
sundry,
divergent,
manifold (formal),
heterogeneous,
mismatched,
multifarious,
not similar,
not alike,
not capable of comparison
in the sense of divergent
two people who have divergent views
Synonyms
different,
conflicting,
differing,
disagreeing,
diverse,
separate,
varying,
variant,
diverging,
dissimilar,
deviating
in the sense of diverse
Definition
different in kind
Their attitudes were refreshingly diverse.
Synonyms
different,
contrasting,
unlike,
varying,
differing,
separate,
distinct,
disparate,
discrete,
dissimilar,
divergent,
discrepant
in the sense of hostile
Definition
opposed (to)
hostile to the idea of foreign intervention
Synonyms
antagonistic,
anti (informal),
opposed,
opposite,
contrary,
inimical,
ill-disposed
Additional synonyms
in the sense of inconsistent
Definition
not in accordance
The outburst was inconsistent with the image he had cultivated.
Synonyms
incompatible,
conflicting,
contrary,
at odds,
contradictory,
in conflict,
incongruous,
discordant,
incoherent,
out of step,
irreconcilable,
at variance,
discrepant,
inconstant,
vagarious (rare)
in the sense of inimical
Definition
adverse or unfavourable
a false morality that is inimical to human happiness
Synonyms
hostile,
opposed,
contrary,
destructive,
harmful,
adverse,
hurtful,
unfriendly,
unfavourable,
antagonistic,
injurious,
unwelcoming,
ill-disposed
in the sense of inverse
Definition
the exact opposite
There is no sign that you bothered to consider the inverse of your logic.
Synonyms
converse,
opposite,
reverse,
contrary,
contradiction,
antithesis
in the sense of irreconcilable
Definition
not able to be resolved or settled
their irreconcilable points of view
Synonyms
incompatible,
conflicting,
opposed,
inconsistent,
incongruous,
diametrically opposed,
clashing
in the sense of opposed
people with views almost diametrically opposed to his own
Synonyms
contrary,
opposite,
conflicting,
opposing,
clashing,
counter,
adverse,
contradictory,
in opposition,
incompatible,
antithetical,
antipathetic,
dissentient
in the sense of opposing
I have a friend who holds the opposing view.
Synonyms
conflicting,
different,
opposed,
contrasting,
opposite,
differing,
contrary,
contradictory,
incompatible,
irreconcilable
in the sense of opposing
The leader said he still favoured a dialogue between the opposing sides.