| English Dictionary |
OPPOSITE
| Pronunciation (US): |  | (GB): | |
| IPA (US): |  |
Dictionary entry overview: What does opposite mean?
• OPPOSITE (noun)
The noun OPPOSITE has 4 senses:
1. a word that expresses a meaning opposed to the meaning of another word, in which case the two words are antonyms of each other
2. a relation of direct opposition
3. a contestant that you are matched against
4. something inverted in sequence or character or effect
Familiarity information: OPPOSITE used as a noun is uncommon.
• OPPOSITE (adjective)
The adjective OPPOSITE has 6 senses:
1. being directly across from each other; facing
2. of leaves etc; growing in pairs on either side of a stem
3. moving or facing away from each other
4. the other one of a complementary pair
5. altogether different in nature or quality or significance
6. characterized by opposite extremes; completely opposed
Familiarity information: OPPOSITE used as an adjective is common.
• OPPOSITE (adverb)
The adverb OPPOSITE has 1 sense:
1. directly facing each other
Familiarity information: OPPOSITE used as an adverb is very rare.
Dictionary entry details
Sense 1
Meaning:
A word that expresses a meaning opposed to the meaning of another word, in which case the two words are antonyms of each other
Classified under:
Nouns denoting communicative processes and contents
Synonyms:
antonym; opposite; opposite word
Context example:
to him the antonym of 'gay' was 'depressed'
Hypernyms ("opposite" is a kind of...):
word (a unit of language that native speakers can identify)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "opposite"):
direct antonym (antonyms that are commonly associated (e.g., 'wet' and 'dry'))
indirect antonym (antonyms whose opposition is mediated (e.g., the antonymy of 'wet' and 'parched' is mediated by the similarity of 'parched' to 'dry'))
Sense 2
Meaning:
A relation of direct opposition
Classified under:
Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas
Synonyms:
Context example:
we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true
Hypernyms ("opposite" is a kind of...):
oppositeness; opposition (the relation between opposed entities)
Sense 3
Meaning:
A contestant that you are matched against
Classified under:
Nouns denoting people
Synonyms:
opponent; opposite; opposition
Hypernyms ("opposite" is a kind of...):
contestant (a person who participates in competitions)
Sense 4
Meaning:
Something inverted in sequence or character or effect
Classified under:
Nouns denoting relations between people or things or ideas
Synonyms:
inverse; opposite
Context example:
when the direct approach failed he tried the inverse
Hypernyms ("opposite" is a kind of...):
oppositeness; opposition (the relation between opposed entities)
Hyponyms (each of the following is a kind of "opposite"):
additive inverse ((mathematics) one of a pair of numbers whose sum is zero; the additive inverse of -5 is +5)
multiplicative inverse; reciprocal ((mathematics) one of a pair of numbers whose product is 1: the reciprocal of 2/3 is 3/2; the multiplicative inverse of 7 is 1/7)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Being directly across from each other; facing
Context example:
at opposite poles
Similar:
other (not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied)
Sense 2
Meaning:
Of leaves etc; growing in pairs on either side of a stem
Synonyms:
opposite; paired
Context example:
opposite leaves
Domain category:
botany; phytology (the branch of biology that studies plants)
Antonym:
alternate (of leaves and branches etc; first on one side and then on the other in two ranks along an axis; not paired)
Sense 3
Meaning:
Moving or facing away from each other
Context example:
they went in opposite directions
Similar:
other (not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied)
Sense 4
Meaning:
The other one of a complementary pair
Context example:
the two chess kings are set up on squares of opposite colors
Similar:
other (not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied)
Sense 5
Meaning:
Altogether different in nature or quality or significance
Context example:
it is said that opposite characters make a union happiest
Similar:
different (unlike in nature or quality or form or degree)
Derivation:
oppositeness (the relation between opposed entities)
Sense 6
Meaning:
Characterized by opposite extremes; completely opposed
Synonyms:
diametric; diametrical; opposite; polar
Context example:
extreme and indefensible polar positions
Similar:
different (unlike in nature or quality or form or degree)
Derivation:
oppositeness (the relation between opposed entities)
Sense 1
Meaning:
Directly facing each other
Synonyms:
face-to-face; face to face; opposite
Context example:
they sat opposite at the table
Context examples
The occurrence of Delftia in the queen’s mouth and gut rose or fell opposite to the levels of bacteria considered beneficial.
(Species Shifts in the Honey Bee Microbiome Differ with Age and Hive Role, U.S. Department of Agriculture)
The two men had stopped opposite the window.
(The Memoirs of Sherlock Holmes, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)
“As she is going in the opposite direction, she is very probably bound for San Francisco.”
(The Sea-Wolf, by Jack London)
It shows just the opposite, with few toxic agents compared to epithelial cells.
(Brazil scientists discover Zika virus inhibitor, Agência Brasil)
Her face is right opposite, and it looks so sweet behind the flowers, I can't help watching it.
(Little Women, by Louisa May Alcott)
In a study carried out during a simulated mission to Mars, an international group of scientists has found exactly the opposite to be true.
(Salty Diet Makes You Hungry, Not Thirsty, The Titi Tudorancea Bulletin)
A projection or prominence opposite the tragus that is found on the lower exterior portion of the ear.
(Antitragus, NCI Thesaurus)
The superior portion of the heart located opposite to the apical portion.
(Base of the Heart, NCI Thesaurus)
The opposite of a blinded study is an open label study.
(Blinded Clinical Study, NCI Dictionary)
The portion of the bladder that is formed by the posterior wall and is located opposite to the bladder opening.
(Bladder Fundus, NCI Thesaurus)
| Learn English with... Proverbs |
"A real friend takes the hand of his friend in overwhelming worry and fire." (Afghanistan proverb)
"The wound of words is worse than the wound of swords." (Arabic proverb)
"Barking dogs don't bite." (Dutch proverb)