I. re ‧ verse 1 W3 AC /rɪˈvɜːs $ -ɜːrs/ BrE AmE verb
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ reversal , ↑ reverse ; adjective : ↑ reverse , ↑ reversible ≠ ↑ irreversible ; verb : ↑ reverse ]
1 . OPPOSITE [transitive] to change something, such as a decision, judgment, or process so that it is the opposite of what it was before
reverse a decision/verdict/policy etc
The decision was reversed on appeal.
reverse a trend/process/decline etc
More changes are required to reverse the trend towards centralised power.
2 . CAR [intransitive and transitive] especially British English if a vehicle or its driver reverses, they go backwards SYN back up American English
reverse out of/into etc
Bob reversed into a parking space.
reverse something into/out of something
I reversed the car into a side road.
3 . CHANGE POSITION/PURPOSE [transitive] to change around the usual order of the parts of something, or the usual things two people do SYN swap
reverse roles/positions
Our roles as child and guardian had now been reversed.
4 . TURN SOMETHING OVER [transitive] to turn something over or around, in order to show the back of it:
Reverse the paper in the printer.
5 . reverse yourself American English to change your opinion or position in an argument:
Suddenly, he reversed himself completely.
6 . reverse the charges British English to make a telephone call which is paid for by the person you are telephoning SYN call collect American English
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COLLOCATIONS
■ nouns
▪ reverse a decision/ruling
The Supreme Court reversed the decision.
▪ reverse your position (=change your opinion or attitude)
He spoke in favor of the bill, reversing his previous position.
▪ reverse a policy
She is pressing the government to reverse its policy.
▪ reverse a trend
Immigration has increased sharply and reversing this trend will be extremely difficult.
▪ reverse a decline
His policies had reversed the decline in the economy.
▪ reverse a process
We cannot reverse the ageing process.
▪ reverse the effects of something
Hair conditioner can’t reverse the damaging effects of colouring and perming.
II. reverse 2 AC BrE AmE noun
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ reversal , ↑ reverse ; adjective : ↑ reverse , ↑ reversible ≠ ↑ irreversible ; verb : ↑ reverse ]
1 . OPPOSITE the reverse the exact opposite of what has just been mentioned
quite/just/precisely/exactly the reverse
I didn’t mean to insult her – quite the reverse (=in fact, I meant to praise her) .
I owe you nothing. If anything, the reverse is true (=you owe me) .
2 . in reverse in the opposite way to normal or to the previous situation ⇨ vice versa :
US video recorders cannot play European tapes, and the same applies in reverse.
3 . go into reverse/put something into reverse to start to happen or to make something happen in the opposite way:
The incident threatened to put the peace process into reverse.
4 . CAR [uncountable] the position of the ↑ gear s in a vehicle that makes it go backwards
into/in reverse
Put the car into reverse.
5 . DEFEAT [countable] formal a defeat or a problem that delays your plans SYN setback :
Losing the Senate vote was a serious reverse for the President.
6 . OTHER SIDE [singular] the less important side or the back of an object that has two sides
on the reverse
The British ten-pence coin has a lion on the reverse.
III. reverse 3 AC BrE AmE adjective [only before noun]
[ Word Family: noun : ↑ reversal , ↑ reverse ; adjective : ↑ reverse , ↑ reversible ≠ ↑ irreversible ; verb : ↑ reverse ]
[ Date: 1300-1400 ; Language: Old French ; Origin: revers , from Latin reversus , past participle of revertere ; ⇨ ↑ revert ]
1 . reverse order/situation/process etc the opposite order etc to what is usual or to what has just been stated:
The results were read out in reverse order (=with the worst first and the best last) .
2 . the reverse side the back of something