reverse
- 01 B1 Intermediate
v.to change something so it goes in the opposite direction or follows the opposite order.
v.to transpose the positions of elements or to cause a process to run in the opposite sequence.
Simple“The new manager decided to reverse the company's policy on remote work.”
In context“The researchers had to reverse the order of the steps to see if the chemical reaction would still occur under cooler conditions.”
- 02 A2 Elementary
v.to drive a car or other vehicle backwards.
v.to operate a vehicle in a rearward direction. Often used intransitively or with a reflexive pronoun.
Simple“It is difficult to reverse a large truck into a narrow driveway.”
In context“The driver carefully reversed the trailer toward the loading dock, relying entirely on his side mirrors to guide the maneuver.”
- 03 C1 Advanced
v.to officially change a legal decision or a rule to the opposite.
v.to annul or overrule a previous legal judgement, verdict, or administrative decree.
Simple“The higher court chose to reverse the earlier judge's decision.”
In context“The Supreme Court eventually reversed the ruling, citing a fundamental misinterpretation of the constitutional protections regarding privacy.”
- 04 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the exact opposite of a situation or statement.
n.the contrary or opposite of something previously mentioned.
Simple“I thought the film would be boring, but the reverse was true.”
In context“While many expected the tax cuts to stimulate spending, the reverse occurred as households began saving more in anticipation of a recession.”
- 05 C1 Advanced
n.a problem that stops progress or makes a situation worse.
n.a change from good fortune to bad; a significant defeat or setback.
Simple“The army suffered a major reverse during the winter battle.”
In context“Despite several financial reverses early in his career, the entrepreneur eventually built a global shipping empire.”
Synonyms - 06 B2 Upper Intermediate
n.the back of something, like a coin or a piece of paper.
n.the side of a coin, medal, or document that is considered the back.
Simple“You can find the date the coin was made on its reverse.”
In context“The artist signed the canvas on the reverse to avoid distracting from the delicate brushwork on the front.”
- 07 B1 Intermediate
adj.going in the opposite direction or being the opposite of something.
adj.acting, moving, or facing in a manner opposite to the usual or previous one.
Simple“The two cars were travelling in reverse directions when they passed each other.”
In context“The gears were locked in a reverse position, preventing the machine from advancing along the assembly line.”
Usage reverse procedure · reverse process · reverse trend
“As of 2026, an estimated 2.4 million girls remain excluded from secondary education, with restrictions reversing two decades of progress in expanding access to education.”
“On water, he said it would not be easy to reverse the privatisation of water companies in England and Wales that took place in the 1980s.”
From Middle English revers, from Anglo-Norman revers, Middle French revers, and their source, Latin reversus, perfect passive participle of reversō, from re- + versō. Doublet of revers.
From Middle English reversen, from Anglo-Norman reverser, Middle French reverser, and their source, Latin reversō, from re- + versō.
Etymology adapted from Wiktionary, available under CC BY-SA 4.0.