revert
/ri'və:t/
Học thuậtThân thiện
The scientist observed the mutated fruit fly revert to its normal wing shape.
Definition
Verb (intransitive):
- To return to a previous state, condition, practice, or belief.
- In law, to return property to a grantor or their heirs after a particular event or condition.
- In biology, to undergo genetic reversion, returning to an ancestral type or earlier characteristic.
Verb (transitive, rare/archaic):
- To turn something back or direct something back to a previous direction or state.
Usage and Examples
Intransitive Verb (most common):
- After the failed experiment, the system reverted to its default settings.
- He promised to change his diet but soon reverted to his old eating habits.
- The property will revert to the state if the land is not developed within ten years.
Transitive Verb (rare):
- The poet reverted his gaze to the distant mountains. (Archaic usage meaning "turned back")
Advanced Usage
"revert to type": To return to one's inherent or original character, often after a period of pretending or trying to be different.
- He tried to be polite for a while, but he soon reverted to type and started arguing.
In computing/IT: To return a file, system, or code to a previous version or state.
- If the update causes problems, you can revert to the earlier build.
In formal correspondence: Used to mean "to reply" or "to respond," particularly in Indian English.
- Please revert to me with your decision at your earliest convenience. (This usage is common in certain regions but is often considered non-standard in others.)
Variants and Related Words
- Reversion (noun): The act or process of reverting.
- The reversion of the land to its original owners was a complex legal process.
- Reversible (adjective): Capable of being reversed or returned to an original state.
- The damage to the ecosystem may not be reversible.
Synonyms
- Return: To go or come back to a place or condition.
- Regress: To return to a former or less developed state.
- Relapse: To fall back into a previous state, especially of illness or bad behavior.
Phrasal Verbs / Common Constructions
- Revert back (often considered redundant, as "revert" implies "back," but commonly used for emphasis).
- The software will revert back to the last saved version.
- Revert to (the standard preposition used with this verb).
- When stressed, she tends to revert to speaking in her native language.
Related Idioms
- Revert to form: Similar to "revert to type," meaning to return to one's typical behavior or performance.
- After a surprising loss, the champion team reverted to form and won the next five matches.
The scientist observed the mutated fruit fly revert to its normal wing shape.
Verb
- undergo reversion, as in a mutation
- go back to a previous state
- We reverted to the old rules