opposite
Americanadjective
-
situated, placed, or lying face to face with something else or each other, or in corresponding positions with relation to an intervening line, space, or thing.
opposite ends of a room.
-
contrary or radically different in some respect common to both, as in nature, qualities, direction, result, or significance; opposed.
opposite sides in a controversy;
opposite directions.
- Synonyms:
- unlike, irreconcilable, incompatible
-
being the other of two related or corresponding things.
Most of my family lives on the opposite coast, so I only see them a few times a year.
-
Botany.
-
situated on diametrically opposed sides of an axis, as leaves when there are two on one node.
-
having one organ vertically above another; superimposed.
-
-
adverse or inimical.
noun
-
a person or thing that is opposite or contrary.
-
an antonym.
-
Archaic. an opponent; antagonist.
preposition
-
across from; facing.
The guest of honor sat opposite me at the banquet.
-
in a role parallel or complementary to.
He has played opposite many leading ladies.
adverb
-
on opposite sides.
-
on the opposite side.
I was at one end and she sat opposite.
-
to the opposite side; in the opposite direction.
I went to the left balcony, and he went opposite.
adjective
-
situated or being on the other side or at each side of something between
their houses were at opposite ends of the street
-
facing or going in contrary directions
opposite ways
-
diametrically different in character, tendency, belief, etc
opposite views
-
botany
-
(of leaves, flowers, etc) arranged in pairs on either side of the stem
-
(of parts of a flower) arranged opposite the middle of another part
-
-
maths
-
(of two vertices or sides in an even-sided polygon) separated by the same number of vertices or sides in both a clockwise and anticlockwise direction
-
opp. (of a side in a triangle) facing a specified angle
-
noun
-
a person or thing that is opposite; antithesis
-
maths the side facing a specified angle in a right-angled triangle
-
a rare word for opponent
preposition
-
Also: opposite to. facing; corresponding to (something on the other side of a division)
the house opposite ours
-
as a co-star with
she played opposite Olivier in ``Hamlet''
adverb
-
Arranged as one of a pair on either side of a stem or twig. Maple and ash trees have opposite leaves.
-
Compare alternate
Related Words
Opposite, contrary, reverse imply that two things differ from each other in such a way as to indicate a definite kind of relationship. Opposite suggests symmetrical antithesis in position, action, or character: opposite ends of a pole, sides of a road, views. Contrary sometimes adds to opposite the idea of conflict or antagonism: contrary statements, beliefs. Reverse suggests something that faces or moves in the opposite direction: the reverse side of a coin; a reverse gear.
Other Word Forms
- oppositely adverb
- oppositeness noun
- subopposite adjective
- suboppositely adverb
- suboppositeness noun
Etymology
Origin of opposite
First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Middle French, from Latin oppositus, past participle of oppōnere “to set against”; oppose, -ite 2
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Though concerns around the quick build-out of data centers have centered on their potential to strain electricity supplies, now the opposite risk is emerging.
This buildup of charge leaves one edge negatively charged and the opposite edge positively charged, creating a measurable voltage difference.
From Science Daily
While many ski towns have spent years mourning the rise of corporate conglomerates swallowing mom-and-pop owners, a growing faction in Telluride was pushing in the opposite direction.
She grabs a perfectly pink jacket facing the opposite direction from the rest of the things in her closet.
From Salon
The U.S. operates two hospital ships: one is currently docked at an Alabama shipyard while the other is on its way to Panama, which is pretty much in the opposite direction from Greenland.
From Salon
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
