# converse

/ˈkɑnvɝs/ (US)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/converse
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 2. the opposite

noun · CEFR C1 · Academic

the opposite of a fact, statement, or idea.

For teachers: a proposition or circumstance that is the reverse of another. Often used in the phrase 'the converse is also true'.

- Some people think wealth brings happiness, but the converse is often true.
- While the study shows that exercise improves sleep, the converse—that poor sleep leads to less exercise—is also supported by the data.

### 3. logic/math

noun · CEFR C1 · Technical

a statement where you switch the two parts of an 'if... then...' sentence.

For teachers: a proposition obtained by swapping the hypothesis and conclusion of a conditional statement.

- The converse of 'if it is raining, the grass is wet' is 'if the grass is wet, it is raining'.
- In Euclidean geometry, the converse of a theorem is not necessarily true even if the original statement has been proven.

### 4. reversed

adjective · CEFR C1 · Academic

describing something that is the opposite or reversed.

For teachers: reversed in order, relation, or action; reciprocal.

- We reached the same conclusion but from converse directions of thought.
- The two theories represent converse approaches to the problem, one focusing on individual behavior and the other on social structures.

## Examples

- We sat down to converse about the weekend plans.
- The neighbours often converse over the garden fence while watering their plants.
- Despite their political differences, the two leaders managed to converse with mutual respect during the lengthy diplomatic summit.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.