revers: meaning, definition, pronunciation and examples
B2Neutral to formal; common in technical, legal, financial, and everyday contexts.
Quick answer
What does “revers” mean?
To change something to the opposite position, direction, order, or condition.
Audio
Pronunciation
Definition
Meaning and Definition
To change something to the opposite position, direction, order, or condition; to go or make something go backwards.
In legal contexts: to annul or set aside (a judgement, decision, etc.). In finance: a transaction that unwinds a previous one. In general: a setback or a change to an opposite trend.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Minimal. 'Reverse the charges' (BrE) vs. 'call collect' (AmE) for telephone calls. Slight preference in AmE for 'back up' instead of 'reverse' when driving.
Connotations
Equally neutral in both variants.
Frequency
Slightly higher frequency in AmE in financial/legal jargon (e.g., 'reverse a decision').
Grammar
How to Use “revers” in a Sentence
[VN] (reverse a decision)[V] (the car reversed into the drive)[V-ADJ] (the roles reversed)[VN-ADJ] (the court reversed the conviction unsafe)Vocabulary
Collocations
Examples
Examples of “revers” in a Sentence
noun
British English
- The business suffered a serious reverse last year.
- Put the car in reverse and edge back slowly.
American English
- The election result was a complete reverse for the party.
- The truck's reverse alarm was beeping loudly.
verb
British English
- The Court of Appeal reversed the earlier verdict.
- He reversed the van carefully onto the busy high street.
American English
- The Supreme Court reversed the lower court's ruling.
- She reversed her car out of the driveway and headed to work.
adjective
British English
- Please write the names in reverse alphabetical order.
- The reverse side of the form must also be completed.
American English
- The process works in the reverse direction.
- Sign your name on the reverse side of the check.
Usage
Meaning in Context
Business
The company hopes to reverse its losses next quarter.
Academic
The study aimed to reverse engineer the cognitive process.
Everyday
Can you reverse the car so I can get out?
Technical
The algorithm can reverse the encryption under specific conditions.
Watch out
Common Mistakes When Using “revers”
- Using 'reverse' instead of 'revert' ('The system will reverse to its default settings' – incorrect, should be 'revert').
- Misspelling as 'revers'.
- Incorrect preposition: 'reverse on a decision' (should be 'reverse a decision').
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
No, 'revers' is an incorrect spelling. The correct spelling is 'reverse'. 'Revers' is a French-derived word in English meaning a lapel or turned-back edge on a garment, but it is pronounced /rəˈvɪə/ and is unrelated in common usage.
'Reverse' implies turning something to face the opposite direction or undoing an action. 'Revert' means to return to a previous state or condition. 'Invert' means to turn something upside down or inside out, focusing on position rather than direction.
Yes. As a noun, it can mean: 1) the opposite (the reverse is true), 2) a setback (a military reverse), 3) the gear for driving backwards (put it in reverse), or 4) the back side of something (on the reverse of the coin).
It is neutral. It is perfectly at home in everyday speech ('reverse the car') but is also standard in formal, legal, and technical contexts ('reverse the judgment', 'reverse engineering').
To change something to the opposite position, direction, order, or condition.
Revers: in British English it is pronounced /rɪˈvɜːs/, and in American English it is pronounced /rɪˈvɜːrs/. Tap the audio buttons above to hear it.
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “reverse the tide”
- “put into reverse”
- “the reverse of the coin”
- “go into reverse gear”
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
RE-VERSE: think of 'RE' (again) + 'VERSE' (like in poetry, a line) – to turn a line or direction back to where it was.
Conceptual Metaphor
MOVEMENT IS PROGRESS; REVERSING IS GOING BACKWARDS/UNDOING. (e.g., 'reverse course', 'reversal of fortune').
Practice
Quiz
In which context is 'reverse' used INCORRECTLY?