ENGLISH
REFERENCE

opposite

n. countable
A1 Beginner Oxford US //ˈɑpəzət// UK //ˈɒpəsˌɪt// op·po·site General-service

n. a person or thing that is as different as possible from someone or something else. For example, black is the other side of white.

n. a person or thing that is totally different from or the reverse of someone or something else.


SIMPLE

Hot is the opposite of cold.

CONTEXTUAL

The two brothers have very different personalities; one is shy while the other is the complete opposite.

COMPLEX

In many classic narratives, the protagonist and the antagonist are presented as opposites to highlight the moral conflict at the heart of the story.

Synonyms
Antonyms
Origin

Inherited from Middle English opposit, borrowed from Old French oposite, from Latin oppositus, perfect passive participle of oppōnō (“to oppose”). Compare oppose.

Usage

Often used with the definite article 'the' and followed by the preposition 'of'.

Pitfall

the opposite fromthe opposite ofWhile 'different' takes 'from', the noun 'opposite' almost always takes 'of' to show the relationship between two things.

Idioms1 entry

© 2026 English Reference