reverse
reverse — verb
1. to switch the state, movement, or arrangement of something so that it goes the o
to switch the state, movement, or arrangement of something so that it goes the other way from how it was before
The court reversed its earlier decision after hearing new evidence from both sides.
reverse + decision/ruling
Liam reversed the order of the slides so the conclusion appeared first on the screen.
Scientists managed to reverse some of the memory loss in ageing mice using a new drug.
reverse + effect/condition
The school reversed its ban on mobile phones after parents complained about safety issues.
- reverse a decision
- reverse a trend
- reverse the order
- reverse the effects
- maintain
keep something in its existing state without change
Grammar Patterns
reverse + noun phrase
Usage Note
Common with abstract objects such as decision, policy, trend, or effect. The object is something that was already in place and is now being turned around.
Common Mistakes
2. to make a car, truck, or other vehicle move in the direction that is behind its
to make a car, truck, or other vehicle move in the direction that is behind its front, usually by using a special gear
Apinya carefully reversed the van into the narrow parking space behind the shop.
reverse + vehicle + into/out of + place
Kabir reversed his truck out of the garage and onto the snowy street.
The taxi reversed a few metres to pick up the passenger waiting near the corner.
intransitive: vehicle + reverses + distance
Yael checked both mirrors before reversing into the driveway of the new house.
- reverse into a space
- reverse out of the driveway
- reverse the car
- reverse slowly
- drive forward
move in the frontward direction
Grammar Patterns
reverse + vehicle
reverse + adverb phrase of direction
Usage Note
Can be used both transitively (the driver reverses the vehicle) and intransitively (the vehicle reverses). In British English 'reverse into/out of' is the standard pattern for parking; American English often uses 'back into/out of' instead.
Common Mistakes
3. to place a telephone call that the called party agrees to pay for rather than th
to place a telephone call that the called party agrees to pay for rather than the caller
Chiara reversed the charges when she called her mother from the hotel in Tokyo.
reverse the charges + call someone from somewhere
The traveller reversed the charges on the payphone after his mobile battery died.
Élise accepted a reverse-charge call from her brother who had lost his wallet abroad.
reverse-charge call (adjective form)
The hotel receptionist offered to reverse the charges for the guest whose credit card failed.
- reverse the charges
- reverse-charge call
- call collect
the American English equivalent phrase
Grammar Patterns
reverse the charges
Usage Note
Used mainly in British English. In American English the equivalent is 'call collect'. Now less common because of mobile phones, but still used from payphones, hotels, or prisons.
4. to officially change a legal decision or judgment so that it no longer has any f
to officially change a legal decision or judgment so that it no longer has any force or effect
The Supreme Court reversed the lower court's ruling on the immigration case.
reverse + ruling/judgment/verdict
The judge reversed her earlier order after the defendant produced fresh evidence.
An appeals panel reversed the conviction because of serious errors in the original trial.
reverse a conviction
The minister reversed the ban on food imports after negotiations with the neighbouring country.
- reverse a ruling
- reverse a decision
- reverse a verdict
- reverse a conviction
- uphold
to confirm a decision and keep it in force
Grammar Patterns
reverse + decision/ruling/verdict
reverse — noun
1. something that is the complete opposite of what was just said, expected, or sugg
something that is the complete opposite of what was just said, expected, or suggested
Omar expected the meeting to be friendly, but the reverse turned out to be true.
the reverse turns out to be true
Adisa thought the medicine would help him sleep, yet the reverse happened and he stayed awake all night.
The manager said sales would fall, but the reverse occurred and they rose by fifteen percent.
the reverse occurred/happened
People assumed the new policy would cause problems, but quite the reverse — it solved several old ones.
quite the reverse
- the reverse
- the reverse of
- quite the reverse
- exactly the reverse
- same
the identical thing
Grammar Patterns
the reverse
the reverse of something
Usage Note
Often preceded by 'the' and used in the structure 'the reverse of + noun phrase'. Common in fixed phrases such as 'quite the reverse' (used to strongly contradict a suggestion).
2. the surface on a medal, coin, or flag that is turned away from the main picture
the surface on a medal, coin, or flag that is turned away from the main picture or emblem
The reverse of this coin shows an eagle holding an olive branch in its talons.
the reverse of [object] shows...
Jessica examined the medal's reverse and found a small date engraved near the edge.
The flag has a simple star on the front and a detailed map on the reverse.
on the reverse (prepositional phrase)
The collector carefully photographed the reverse of each ancient coin in the museum display.
- the reverse of the coin
- on the reverse
- the reverse side
- back
more common in everyday language; less formal than 'reverse'
- obverse
the front or main side of a coin or medal
Grammar Patterns
the reverse (of a coin/medal)
Usage Note
The opposite of this sense is 'obverse', though that word is much less common in everyday English. Most speakers simply say 'front' and 'back' for everyday objects.
3. a condition where the usual sequence of events or positions is turned backward f
a condition where the usual sequence of events or positions is turned backward from the normal pattern
The teacher asked the class to recite the alphabet in reverse.
in reverse (adverb phrase)
Mateo listed the numbers in reverse order, starting from ten and going down to one.
in reverse order
The video played in reverse, making the diver appear to leap backward out of the water.
Yumi watched the film scene by scene in reverse to spot the hidden clue she had missed.
- in reverse
- in reverse order
- go into reverse
- put into reverse
- backwards
more informal; can be used as an adverb instead of 'in reverse'
- forward order
the usual or normal sequence
Grammar Patterns
in reverse
in reverse order
Usage Note
Used in the fixed phrase 'in reverse' or 'in reverse order'. Can describe time (events happening backward), sequence (list read from end to start), or motion (going the wrong way).
4. the gear inside a car or truck that lets the driver move the vehicle backward in
the gear inside a car or truck that lets the driver move the vehicle backward instead of forward
Emre put the car in reverse and slowly backed out of the parking spot.
put + vehicle + in reverse
The truck rumbled loudly when the driver shifted into reverse gear.
shift into reverse / reverse gear
Aaron pressed the clutch and moved the stick into reverse before checking his mirrors.
The rental car's reverse was difficult to engage, so Kabir had to push it backward manually.
- in reverse
- put in reverse
- into reverse
- reverse gear
- drive
the gear for forward movement, marked 'D' in automatic cars
Grammar Patterns
in reverse
put the car in reverse
Usage Note
Often appears in the fixed phrase 'put/throw the car in/into reverse'. In automatic cars, reverse is usually marked 'R' on the gear selector.
5. a change from success to failure, or a serious problem that prevents progress
a change from success to failure, or a serious problem that prevents progress
The company suffered a serious reverse when its main investor withdrew funding suddenly.
suffer a reverse
What looked like a military victory soon turned into a crushing reverse for the army.
The team faced a series of reverses that dropped them from first to last place in the league.
a series of reverses
After the political reverse, the party spent months rebuilding its support among younger voters.
- suffer a reverse
- a serious reverse
- a crushing reverse
- a series of reverses
- success
achieving a desired outcome
Grammar Patterns
a reverse
suffer a reverse
Usage Note
More formal and slightly dated in everyday conversation. 'Setback' is the more common alternative. Often used in financial, military, or political contexts.
6. a tactic in American football where the ball carrier passes it to another player
a tactic in American football where the ball carrier passes it to another player heading the opposite way on the field
The quarterback faked a pass and handed the ball off for a reverse to the wide receiver.
hand off / run a reverse
The team practised the reverse play all week and used it to score the winning touchdown.
The defender read the reverse quickly and tackled the runner before he crossed the line of scrimmage.
- run a reverse
- a reverse play
- the reverse option
Grammar Patterns
run a reverse
Usage Note
This is a specialist term from American football. Outside of sports contexts, this sense is almost never used.
reverse — adjective
1. completely different from what is usual, expected, or has just happened
completely different from what is usual, expected, or has just happened
The test results showed a reverse pattern, with younger patients recovering faster than older ones.
reverse pattern / reverse trend
In a reverse move, the bank lowered interest rates while every other bank raised theirs.
reverse move / reverse decision
The novel uses reverse chronology, telling the story from the end back to the beginning.
reverse chronology / reverse order
A reverse effect occurred when the medicine that was meant to calm patients made them anxious.
- reverse order
- reverse direction
- reverse effect
- reverse psychology
- normal
expected or usual
Grammar Patterns
reverse + noun
be reverse
2. moving, facing, or pointing toward the back rather than the front
moving, facing, or pointing toward the back rather than the front
The car rolled in a reverse direction down the hill when the handbrake failed.
reverse direction
The forklift moved in reverse motion through the narrow warehouse aisle.
reverse motion (physical backward movement)
The dancer performed a reverse spin that impressed the judges and the audience alike.
The sign was in reverse position, so drivers approaching from the south could not read it.
- reverse direction
- reverse motion
- reverse gear
- reverse image
- backward
simpler and more common; 'reverse' is slightly more formal in this sense
- forward
toward the front
Grammar Patterns
reverse + movement noun
Usage Note
Best understood by contrast with 'forward'. Many compound terms use this sense, e.g. 'reverse gear', 'reverse thrust', 'reverse image search'.
3. located on or relating to the back surface of an object such as paper, fabric, o
located on or relating to the back surface of an object such as paper, fabric, or a sign
Please write your name on the reverse side of the application form.
the reverse side
The fabric has a smooth finish on the front and a rough texture on the reverse side.
The reverse side of the painting revealed the artist's original sketch in pencil.
Instructions for assembly were printed on the reverse of the cardboard box.
on the reverse of + object
- reverse side
- on the reverse
- the reverse of
- back
simpler and more common; 'the back' is used for everyday objects
- front
the forward or main side
Grammar Patterns
the reverse side / the reverse of something
4. describing the gear or mechanism in a vehicle that produces movement toward the
describing the gear or mechanism in a vehicle that produces movement toward the back
The driver shifted into reverse gear before checking the rear-view mirror carefully.
reverse gear
The reverse setting on the boat's motor allows it to move away from the dock slowly.
reverse setting / reverse mode
The engine made a strange noise when Liam engaged the reverse mechanism on the tractor.
Some electric cars do not have a separate reverse gear; the motor simply spins the other way.
- reverse gear
- reverse mechanism
- reverse setting
- in reverse
- backward
simpler; 'reverse gear' is the standard term in automotive contexts
- forward
the gear for movement toward the front
Grammar Patterns
reverse + gear/mechanism noun
Word family
- reversalnounB2
- reversibleadjectiveB2
- irreversibleadjectiveC1
- reverselyadverbC1
- reversernounC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: verb/1
All four of these verbs describe putting something into a different position or state, but they differ in what kind of thing is being changed. Reverse is the broadest: you can reverse a decision, a direction, an order, or a process. Overturn is more forceful and dramatic, typically used for laws, rulings, or systems — a court overturns a precedent, but you would not overturn the order of slides in a presentation. Invert is more technical and mathematical: you invert the order of numbers in a sequence or invert a fraction. Swap is the most informal and concrete, used when you exchange the positions of two objects or people — you swap seats with a friend, not invert or overturn them. In everyday conversation, 'reverse' and 'swap' are most natural for simple actions; 'overturn' and 'invert' belong in more formal or technical contexts.
Common collocations
Etymology
Reverse comes from Latin 'reversus', the past participle of 'revertere' — 're-' meaning 'back' and 'vertere' meaning 'to turn'. So the core idea has always been 'turning back'. It entered English through Old French 'revers' in the 1300s, first as an adjective and noun, and later as a verb. The sense of 'driving a vehicle backward' appeared in the early 1900s with the rise of automobiles.