Reversing

/rɪˈvɜːsɪŋ/

verbBeginner📊CommonAction
3 meanings2 idioms/phrases3 questions

Definitions

3 meanings
1

To change the direction, order, or position of something to its opposite.

/rɪˈvɜːsɪŋ/

verbneutralBeginner
Action

To cause something to go in the opposite direction.

She was reversing the car out of the driveway.

💡 Simply: Like when you put your car in 'R' and go backward! It's also like when you change the order of something, like the letters in a word.

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

More Examples

2

They are reversing the effects of climate change.

3

The company is reversing its decision to close the factory.

How It's Used

Transportation

"The driver was reversing the car to park."

Technology

"The engineers were reversing the process to find the error."

2

To officially cancel or change (a decision, action, or process) to the opposite or return to a previous state.

/rɪˈvɜːsɪŋ/

verbneutralmedium
Action

To change a decision or policy to its opposite.

The court is reversing the lower court's judgment.

💡 Simply: It's like taking back a decision or changing your mind about something important, like when a judge says 'That decision is not correct! We will CHANGE it!'

👶 For kids: To change a rule or a choice.

More Examples

2

The company is reversing its policy on remote work.

3

The government reversed the tax cuts.

How It's Used

Law

"The appeals court is reversing the lower court's decision."

Politics

"The new government is reversing the previous administration's policies."

Tip:Think of a judge reversing a court decision - changing the outcome.
3

The act or process of going or moving backward, or of changing something to the opposite.

/rɪˈvɜːsɪŋ/

nounneutralmedium
Action

The action of moving in an opposite direction or order.

The reversing of the vehicle was tricky in the narrow lane.

💡 Simply: When something is going backwards, like reversing a car. Or when you are changing a situation to be the opposite, like 'reversing the roles'.

👶 For kids: Going backwards or changing something to be the opposite.

More Examples

2

The company experienced a complete reversing of its fortunes.

3

The reversing camera aided the driver.

How It's Used

General

"The reversing of the process was difficult."

Mechanics

"The car was equipped with a reversing camera."

Tip:Think about the reversing of a car.

Idioms & expressions

reverse course

To change one's plan or direction of action.

"After the public outcry, the company decided to reverse course and reinstate the benefit."

reverse the charges

In a telephone call, to make the receiving party pay for the call; or, to make one party liable.

"When I called my parents from the airport, I reversed the charges so they wouldn't have to pay."

From Old French *reverser* (to turn back, overturn), from Latin *revertere* (to turn back), from *re-* (back) + *vertere* (to turn).

The word 'reverse' and its forms have been in use since the 13th century, originally meaning to turn back or overturn. The sense of canceling a previous decision emerged later.

Memory tip

Imagine a car reversing – it's going backwards.

Word Origin

LanguageLatin
Original meaning

"to turn"

reverse a decisionreverse the processreverse coursereverse the chargesreversing the carreversing engine

Common misspellings

reversingreversingsreversreversin

Usage

40%Spoken
60%Written