opposite
/'ɔpəzit/
Definition
Adjective:
- Directly across from something; facing: Located or positioned directly across from something else, with nothing in between.
- Completely different; contrary: Being as different as possible in nature, quality, or direction.
- Of leaves or flowers: Growing in pairs on either side of a stem.
Adverb:
- In a position facing someone or something: Located directly across from a specified point or person.
Noun:
- A person or thing that is totally different from another: Something or someone that is completely contrary in character, nature, or meaning.
- A word that means the contrary of another word: An antonym.
Usage and Examples
Adjective:
- They live on opposite sides of the street. (They live directly across the street from each other.)
- He has the opposite opinion on the matter. (His opinion is completely contrary to the other one.)
- The two teams are moving in opposite directions. (The teams are going in completely contrary ways.)
Adverb:
- She sat opposite and stared out the window. (She sat in the facing seat and looked out the window.)
- The bank is located opposite the post office. (The bank is directly across from the post office.)
Noun:
- Hot is the opposite of cold. (The word 'hot' means the contrary of 'cold'.)
- My brother and I are complete opposites in personality. (My brother and I have totally different personalities.)
Advanced Usage
"The opposite is true": Used to state that the reality is the contrary of what was just mentioned.
- He seems quiet, but the opposite is true when he's with friends. (He is actually very talkative with friends.)
"Polar opposites": Two things or people that are as different as possible.
- In their political views, they are polar opposites. (Their political views are completely contrary to each other.)
Variants and Related Words
Opposition (n): The state of being in conflict or disagreement with someone or something.
- The proposal faced strong opposition from the community.
Oppositely (adv): In a contrary or opposing manner.
- The two theories are oppositely related.
Synonyms
- Contrary: Opposite in nature, direction, or meaning.
- Facing: Located directly across from.
- Antonym: A word opposite in meaning to another.
Antonyms
- Same: Identical; not different.
- Similar: Alike in nature or appearance.
Idioms and Phrases
Opposite number: A person who holds the equivalent position in another organization or group.
- I need to discuss the contract with my opposite number in the London office.
Opposite sex: Men in relation to women or women in relation to men.
- The school organized a dance to help students socialize with the opposite sex.
Adjective
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characterized by opposite extremes; completely opposed
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in diametric contradiction to his claims
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diametrical (or opposite) points of view
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opposite meanings
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extreme and indefensible polar positions
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altogether different in nature or quality or significance
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the medicine's effect was opposite to that intended
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it is said that opposite characters make a union happiest- Charles Reade
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the other one of a complementary pair
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the opposite sex
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the two chess kings are set up on squares of opposite colors
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moving or facing away from each other
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looking in opposite directions
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they went in opposite directions
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of leaves etc; growing in pairs on either side of a stem
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opposite leaves
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being directly across from each other; facing
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And I on the opposite shore will be, ready to ride and spread the alarm- Longfellow
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we lived on opposite sides of the street
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at opposite poles
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Adverb
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directly facing each other
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the two photographs lay face-to-face on the table
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lived all their lives in houses face-to-face across the street
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they sat opposite at the table
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Noun
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something inverted in sequence or character or effect
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when the direct approach failed he tried the inverse
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a contestant that you are matched against
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a relation of direct opposition
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we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true
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a word that expresses a meaning opposed to the meaning of another word, in which case the two words are antonyms of each other
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to him the antonym of `gay' was `depressed'
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