Reversed

/rɪˈvɜːrst/

verbmedium📊CommonGeneral
2 meanings1 idiom/phrase3 questions

Definitions

2 meanings
1

To cause to go in the opposite direction or order; to turn inside out or upside down; to revoke or annul.

/rɪˈvɜːrsd/

verbneutralmedium
General

To change something to the opposite

The judge reversed the initial ruling.

💡 Simply: Imagine you're playing a game and you flip the board or change the rules to make things go the other way. That's reversing something!

👶 For kids: To make something go backwards or change to be the opposite.

More Examples

2

The company reversed its policy on returns.

3

He reversed the flow of the river.

How It's Used

General

"She reversed her decision."

Technology

"The program reversed the order of the files."

2

Turned the opposite way or inside out; having been changed from a previous state.

/rɪˈvɜːrst/

adjectiveneutralmedium
General

Turned backward or in the opposite direction.

He examined the reversed picture to check for discrepancies.

💡 Simply: If your shirt's inside out, or you've completely changed the direction of something, that's 'reversed.'

👶 For kids: To be turned around or backwards, like if you're walking backward.

More Examples

2

The reversed order created a different understanding of the story.

3

A reversed polarity can cause issues with the device.

How It's Used

Technology

"The reversed image showed the flaws more clearly."

Science

"He was able to create reversed magnetism."

Tip:Picture a sign that's been flipped around, so you can't read it.

Idioms & expressions

reverse psychology

A way of influencing someone to do or want something by telling them the opposite or by making them think they cannot have it.

"She used reverse psychology to get her son to clean his room."

From Middle English *reversen*, from Old French *reverser* (“to turn back, overturn”), from Latin *revertō* (“to turn back, return”).

The word 'reverse' has been used since the 14th century to describe turning something back or changing its direction or form.

Memory tip

Think of a car shifting into reverse - the action is opposite of forward.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to turn back, return"

reversed decisionreversed imagereversed orderreversed polarityreversed direction

Common misspellings

reveresedreversd

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written