- the reverse[singular] the opposite of what has just been mentioned
- This problem is the reverse of the previous one.
- Although I expected to enjoy living in the country, in fact the reverse is true.
- In the south, the reverse applies.
- It wasn't easy to persuade her to come—quite the reverse.
- If you tell children to do something, they will often do the exact reverse.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- exact
- do
- on the reverse
- the reverse[singular] the back of a coin, piece of material, piece of paper, etc.
- The coin has a coat of arms stamped on the reverse.
- The coin has a date on one side and the emperor's head on the reverse.
- (also reverse gear)[uncountable] the machine in a vehicle used to make it move backwards
- Put the car in/into reverse.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryverb + reverse- put something in
- put something into
- throw something into
- …
- gear
- [countable] (formal) a loss or defeat; a change from success to failure synonym setback
- Property values have suffered another reverse.
- a damaging political reverse
- Their forces have suffered serious reverses in recent months.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- major
- serious
- have
- suffer
opposite
back
in vehicle
loss/defeat
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French revers, reverse (nouns), reverser (verb), from Latin reversus ‘turned back’, past participle of revertere, from re- ‘back’ + vertere ‘to turn’.
Idioms
See reverse in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee reverse in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic Englishgo/put something into reverse
- to start to happen or to make something happen in the opposite way
- In 2008 economic growth went into reverse.
- Various problems have put the company’s expansion plans into reverse.
in reverse
- in the opposite order or way synonym backwards
- The secret number is my phone number in reverse.
- We did a similar trip to you, but in reverse.
Check pronunciation:
reverse