If a decision, action, or change is irrevocable, it cannot be changed or reversed.
[formal]
It may well be worth waiting for better times before making any irrevocable commitment.
He said the decision was irrevocable.
Synonyms: fixed, settled, irreversible, fated More Synonyms of irrevocable
irrevocably (ɪrevəkəbli)adverb [usually ADVERB with verb, oft ADVERB adjective]
My relationships with friends have been irrevocably altered by my illness.
irrevocable in British English
(ɪˈrɛvəkəbəl)
adjective
not able to be revoked, changed, or undone; unalterable
Derived forms
irrevocability (irˌrevocaˈbility) or irrevocableness (irˈrevocableness)
noun
irrevocably (irˈrevocably)
adverb
irrevocable in American English
(ɪˈrɛvəkəbəl)
adjective
that cannot be revoked, recalled, or undone; unalterable
Derived forms
irrevocability (irˌrevocaˈbility)
noun or irˈrevocableness
irrevocably (irˈrevocably)
adverb
Word origin
ME < MFr irrévocable < L irrevocabilis
Examples of 'irrevocable' in a sentence
irrevocable
City sources familiar with the underwriting agreements said that shareholders had signed irrevocable commitments to take part.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
But, from that point, it will be on an informal and voluntary basis without the constraint of irrevocable commitment to some higher political entity.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
Quotations
The moving finger writes; and having writ, Moves on; nor all thy piety nor wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a line, Nor all thy tears wash out a word of it.Edward FitzgeraldRubaiyat of Omar Khayyam
One cannot step twice into the same riverHeraclitus
In other languages
irrevocable
British English: irrevocable ADJECTIVE
If a decision, action, or change is irrevocable, it cannot be changed or reversed.
He said the decision was irrevocable.
American English: irrevocable
Brazilian Portuguese: irrevogável
Chinese: 不可改变的
European Spanish: irrevocable
French: irrévocable
German: unwiderruflich
Italian: irrevocabile
Japanese: 取り消せない
Korean: 번복할 수 없는
European Portuguese: irrevogável
Latin American Spanish: irrevocable
(adjective)
Definition
not possible to change or undo
He said the decision was irrevocable.
Synonyms
fixed
settled
irreversible
She could suffer irreversible brain damage if we don't act fast.
fated
predetermined
We will meet with them at the predetermined time.
immutable
the immutable principles of right and wrong
invariable
It was his invariable custom to have a cup of tea before bed.
irretrievable
a country in irretrievable decline
predestined
His career was not predestined from birth.
unalterable
an unalterable fact of life
unchangeable
an almost unchangeable system of laws and customs
changeless
irremediable
unreversible
Quotations
The moving finger writes; and having writ, Moves on; nor all thy piety nor wit Shall lure it back to cancel half a line, Nor all thy tears wash out a word of it. [Edward Fitzgerald – Rubaiyat of Omar Khayyam]One cannot step twice into the same river [Heraclitus]
Additional synonyms
in the sense of changeless
Synonyms
unchanging,
settled,
fixed,
regular,
permanent,
constant,
steady,
uniform,
consistent,
reliable,
eternal,
abiding,
perpetual,
stationary,
resolute,
everlasting,
steadfast,
immutable,
immovable,
unalterable,
unvarying
in the sense of immutable
Definition
unchangeable or unchanging
the immutable principles of right and wrong
Synonyms
unchanging,
fixed,
permanent,
stable,
constant,
enduring,
abiding,
perpetual,
inflexible,
steadfast,
sacrosanct,
immovable,
ageless,
invariable,
unalterable,
unchangeable,
changeless,
fixed as the laws of the Medes and Persians
in the sense of invariable
Definition
unchanging
It was his invariable custom to have a cup of tea before bed.
Synonyms
regular,
set,
fixed,
constant,
uniform,
consistent,
rigid,
inflexible,
unchanging,
immutable,
unwavering,
unfailing,
unalterable,
unchangeable,
unvarying,
changeless
Synonyms of 'irrevocable'
irrevocable
Explore 'irrevocable' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of irretrievable
Definition
impossible to put right or make good
a country in irretrievable decline
Synonyms
irreversible,
incurable,
irrevocable,
irreparable,
final,
unalterable
in the sense of irreversible
Definition
not able to be reversed or put right again
She could suffer irreversible brain damage if we don't act fast.