Word
reversal
Phoneticsre·ver·sal, stress on the second syllable
US/ɹiˈvɝsəɫ/
UK/ɹɪvˈɜːsəl/
Definitions
01a change in direction or policy
B2 · Upper Intermediate Countable noun
n. a complete change in a situation, opinion, or way of doing things.
n. a change to an opposite direction, position, or course of action.
“The government's sudden reversal on tax policy surprised many voters.”
“The board's decision represented a dramatic reversal of the strategy they had pursued for the previous decade.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
02a change in fortune
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Formal
n. a change from being successful to having problems or losing money.
n. a change from a state of prosperity or success to one of hardship or failure.
“The company suffered a major financial reversal after the new product failed.”
“Despite several early reversals in his professional life, he eventually founded one of the most successful firms in the region.”
Synonyms
03overturning a legal decision
C1 · Advanced Countable noun Law Technical · Formal
n. when a higher court decides that a previous legal decision was wrong.
n. the act of an appellate court setting aside or overturning the decision of a lower court.
“The lawyer is confident that the case will end in a reversal of the original verdict.”
“The supreme court's reversal of the lower court's ruling established a significant precedent for future privacy cases.”
Synonyms
Antonyms
Real-World Examples
“Here it was a case of role‑reversal, Eze shining after coming on for the second half in place of Christos Tzolis, who was booked after a foul on Cash and muted.” “The decision to fire Espinoza, however, marks a reversal for the Paz government.” Etymology
From Middle English reversall; equivalent to reverse + -al.
From French réversal or Medieval Latin reversālis.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.
Word family
VERB
NOUN
ADJECTIVE
- 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.B2 FirstIELTSIELTSInternational English Language Testing SystemThe 0–9 band test co-owned by the British Council, IDP, and Cambridge. Used for university entry, work, and migration.5.5–6.5TOEFL 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: 4.0–4.572–94TOEICTOEICTest of English for International CommunicationETS's workplace English test, big in Japan and Korea. Listening & Reading scores 10–990 and tops out at C1.785–944
- Frequency
- Frequent
- Level
- B2 · Upper Intermediate
- Updated
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