Word
inverse
Phoneticsin·verse, stress on the second syllable
/ˌɪnˈvɝs/
Definitions
01the direct opposite
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Academic
n. the exact opposite of something else.
n. the direct opposite or reverse of a given state, condition, or proposition.
“The results of the second experiment were the exact inverse of the first.”
“The new policy produced an outcome that was the functional inverse of what the committee had originally intended to achieve.”
Antonyms
02mathematical opposite
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Mathematics Technical
n. a number or element that cancels out another one when you use them together in a calculation.
n. an element which, when combined with another under a specific binary operation, yields the identity element.
“To solve the equation, you need to find the inverse of the matrix.”
“The student struggled to calculate the multiplicative inverse of the fraction, failing to realise it simply required inverting the numerator and denominator.”
Usage
In arithmetic, the additive inverse of 5 is -5.
Synonyms
03opposite in order or effect
C1 · Advanced Academic
adj. opposite in position, direction, or the way it works.
adj. reversed in position, order, or relation; often used to describe a relationship where one value increases as another decreases.
“There is an inverse relationship between the price of the product and how many people buy it.”
“The researchers noted an inverse correlation between the amount of sleep participants received and their reported stress levels the following morning.”
Usage
Commonly used in the phrase 'inverse relationship'.
Antonyms
Collocations
Common phrases and expressions where native English speakers use the word “inverse” in context.
Adjective
01. inverse proportion
“The amount of time spent on social media is often in inverse proportion to one's productivity.”
adj + noun
02. inverse relationship
“Economists have noted an inverse relationship between unemployment rates and consumer spending.”
adj + noun
Real-World Examples
“Newton originally developed the inverse square relation to describe motion within the Solar System.” “Yet here it's the inverse: The Sirens are sitting in the middle of this field surrounded by bones—all men's bones," Tran said.” Etymology
Recorded since 1440, from Latin inversus, the past participle of invertere (“to invert”), itself from in- (“reverse, reciprocal”) + vertere (“to turn”).
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Related words
Domains
- Exam level
- CambridgeCambridgeCambridge English QualificationsThe exam suite from Cambridge University Press & Assessment, from A1 Movers up to C2 Proficiency. The benchmark names double as CEFR labels.C1 AdvancedIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.7.0–8.0TOEFL iBTTOEFL iBTTest of English as a Foreign Language, Internet-Based TestETS's academic English test, the standard route for US university admissions. Scored 0–120, with a 1–6 scale since 2026.1–6 scale: 5.0–5.595–113TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.945–990
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- C1 · Advanced
- Updated
- アルファベット
- 読み方の一覧 →
QR code
englishreference.com/q/inverse