opposite or contrary in position, direction, order, or character: an impression reverse to what was intended; in reverse sequence.
with the back or rear part toward the observer: the reverse side of a fabric.
pertaining to or producing movement in a mechanism opposite to that made under ordinary running conditions: a reverse gear; a reverse turbine.
acting in a manner opposite or contrary to that which is usual, as an appliance or apparatus.
noting or pertaining to an image like that seen in a mirror; backward; reversed.
noting or pertaining to printed matter in which what is normally white, as the page of a book, appears as black, and vice versa.
noun
the opposite or contrary of something.
the back or rear of anything.
Numismatics.
the side of a coin, medal, etc., that does not bear the principal design (opposed to obverse).
the side of an ancient coin that was struck by the upper die.
an adverse change of fortune; a misfortune, check, or defeat: to meet with an unexpected reverse.
Machinery.
the condition of being reversed: to throw an engine into reverse.
a reversing mechanism.
Football. a play on offense in which one back running laterally hands the ball to another back who is running in the opposite direction and who then makes either an end run or a cutback.
Bridge. reverse bid.
Printing. printed matter in which areas that normally appear as white are printed in black, and vice versa.
verb (used with object),re·versed,re·vers·ing.
to turn in an opposite position; transpose: The printer accidently reversed two chapters of the book.
to turn in the opposite direction; send on the opposite course.
to turn inside out or upside down.
to change the direction of running of (a mechanism).
to cause (a mechanism) to run in a direction opposite to that in which it commonly runs.
to revoke or annul (a decree, judgment, etc.): to reverse a verdict.
to alter to the opposite in character or tendency; change completely.
to turn in the opposite order: to reverse the process of evolution.
Printing. to print as a reverse.
verb (used without object),re·versed,re·vers·ing.
to shift into reverse gear: The driver drove forward, then reversed.
(of a mechanism) to be reversed.
to turn or move in the opposite or contrary direction, as in dancing.
Bridge. to make a reverse bid.
Origin of reverse
1275–1325; (noun) Middle English revers<Old French <Latin reversus, past participle of revertere to revert (see verse); (v.) Middle English reversen<Old French reverser<Late Latin reversāre, frequentative of revertere
SYNONYMS FOR reverse
1 converse.
7 converse, counterpart.
10 mishap, misadventure, affliction.
20 repeal, veto, countermand, rescind, overthrow.
SEE SYNONYMS FOR reverse ON THESAURUS.COM
ANTONYMS FOR reverse
1 same.
SEE ANTONYMS FOR reverse ON THESAURUS.COM
synonym study for reverse
1. See opposite. 15, 17. Reverse,invert agree in meaning to change into a contrary position, order, or relation. To reverse is to place or move something so that it is facing in the opposite direction from the one faced previously: to reverse from right to left; to reverse a decision.To invert is to turn upside down: to invert a stamp in printing; to invert a bowl over a plate.
non·re·verse,adjective,nounnon·re·versed,adjectivenon·re·vers·ing,adjectivepre·re·verse,noun,verb (used with object),pre·re·versed,pre·re·vers·ing.un·re·versed,adjective
But Republican and Democratic parties have made efforts to reverse that trend.
Asian-Americans Are The New Florida|Tim Mak|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
So now the company is asking the FCC to, in effect, reverse itself.
How ‘Ethical’ Hotel Chain Marriott Gouges Guests in the Name of Wi-Fi Security|Kyle Chayka|December 31, 2014|DAILY BEAST
My trip takes the reverse path, and I begin by assessing the depth of my Shakespeare knowledge in his birthplace.
Biking With the Bard|Kara Cutruzzula|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Ditto Virginia, but in reverse; culturally, northern Virginia is Yankee land (but with gun shops).
Dems, It’s Time to Dump Dixie|Michael Tomasky|December 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Europeans seem to find them exotic, an odd case of culture-envy in reverse.
Beer Countries vs. Wine Countries|Clive Irving|December 7, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Could he reverse the steering-gear in all that flame and smoke?
Egholm and his God|Johannes Buchholtz
The signet is hung upon a swivel, and has hieroglyphics on what may be called the reverse.
Chambers's Edinburgh Journal, No. 455|Various
How fatal then, how tormenting, how intolerable, must her reverse of fortune be!
The Adventures of Roderick Random|Tobias Smollett
Christopher could afford to be magnanimous toward Alan, now that Elisabeth was the reverse.
The Farringdons|Ellen Thorneycroft Fowler
Turn your minds eye upon the reverse of all this false felicity and you will perceive the true happiness.
Chaucer's Translation of Boethius's 'De Consolatione Philosophiae'|Geoffrey Chaucer
British Dictionary definitions for reverse
reverse
/ (rɪˈvɜːs) /
verb(mainly tr)
to turn or set in an opposite direction, order, or position
to change into something different or contrary; alter completelyreverse one's policy
(also intr)to move or cause to move backwards or in an opposite directionto reverse a car
to run (machinery, etc) in the opposite direction to normal
to turn inside out
lawto revoke or set aside (a judgment, decree, etc); annul
(often foll by out)to print from plates so made that white lettering or design of (a page, text, display, etc) appears on a black or coloured background
reverse armsmilitaryto turn one's arms upside down, esp as a token of mourning
reverse the chargeorreverse the chargesto make a telephone call at the recipient's expense
noun
the opposite or contrary of something
the back or rear side of something
a change to an opposite position, state, or direction
a change for the worse; setback or defeat
the mechanism or gears by which machinery, a vehicle, etc, can be made to reverse its direction
(as modifier)reverse gear
the side of a coin bearing a secondary designCompare obverse (def. 5)
printed matter in which normally black or coloured areas, esp lettering, appear white, and vice versa
(as modifier)reverse plates
in reversein an opposite or backward direction
the reverse ofemphatically not; not at allhe was the reverse of polite when I called
adjective
opposite or contrary in direction, position, order, nature, etc; turned backwards
back to front; inverted
operating or moving in a manner contrary to that which is usual
denoting or relating to a mirror image
Derived forms of reverse
reversely, adverbreverser, noun
Word Origin for reverse
C14: from Old French, from Latin reversus, from revertere to turn back