From Longman Dictionary of Contemporary Englishreversere‧verse1 /rɪˈvɜːs $ -ɜːrs/ ●●○ W3 AWL verb 1 opposite [transitive]OPPOSITE/REVERSE to change something, such as a decision, judgment, or process so that it is the opposite of what it was beforereverse a decision/verdict/policy etc The decision was reversed on appeal.reverse a trend/process/decline etc More changes are required to reverse the trend towards centralised power.2 car [intransitive, transitive]TTC especially British English if a vehicle or its driver reverses, they go backwards SYN back up American Englishreverse out of/into etc Bob reversed into a parking space.reverse something into/out of something I reversed the car into a side road.3 change position/purpose [transitive]ORDER/SEQUENCE to change around the usual order of the parts of something, or the usual things two people do SYN swapreverse roles/positions Our roles as child and guardian had now been reversed.4 turn something over [transitive]TURN to turn something over or around, in order to show the back of it Reverse the paper in the printer.5 → reverse yourself6 → reverse the chargesCOLLOCATIONSnounsreverse a decision/rulingThe Supreme Court reversed the decision.reverse your position (=change your opinion or attitude)He spoke in favor of the bill, reversing his previous position.reverse a policyShe is pressing the government to reverse its policy.reverse a trendImmigration has increased sharply and reversing this trend will be extremely difficult.reverse a declineHis policies had reversed the decline in the economy.reverse a processWe cannot reverse the ageing process.reverse the effects of somethingHair conditioner can’t reverse the damaging effects of colouring and perming. → See Verb table
Examples from the Corpus
reverse• Drive down to where I am, then start reversing.• Half the new police squad cars have the colors reversed.• It's clear that our priorities need to be reversed.• The image on the screen was reversed and upside down.• Many of the former administration's policies were reversed by the new president.• It reversed fast, the gearbox whining like a violin, and parked in front of the Mercedes.• The longer the economic decline is allowed to go on the more difficult it will be to reverse it.• Many of the consequences of our acts can be reversed or nullified by redefinition.• As I approached the house a car reversed out of the driveway and sped off down the road.• It may take a century or two to reverse the damage done by pollution.• Most important, they announced that they would reverse the disastrous 1982 policy of nationalizing banks.• Self-pity tends to block taking action that will be truly effective in reversing the downward spirals of primary and family diseases.• The court of appeal reversed the original verdict set the prisoner free.• By keeping a close and constant watch on himself, Quinn was gradually able to reverse the process.• The Prague linguists' approach explains it in terms of reversing the theme-rheme sequence.• He slowly reversed the van into the parking place.• Cities are expanding and using up more and more of the desert. Our aim is to reverse this trend and to protect our open spaces.• Tyler had been charged with reversing this trend.• You'll have to reverse to let them pass.reverse a trend/process/decline etc• They also allow the reverse processes, antiquarks turning into electrons, and electrons and antielectrons turning into antiquarks and quarks.• The action reversed a trend in which the two countries appeared to be edging ever so slightly toward increased cooperation.• The reverse process involves the computer recognition of pictures.• Ultimately you are involved in a reverse process of what the historian H underwent while writing the book.• The reverse process often takes place in the evening, and the mountains become clear and sharp again.• The reverse process, therefore, is to consider what we owe to other people.• The reverse process was used to install the launcher on pedestals at the pad.reverse out of/into etc• The four-wheel started first go and he reversed out into the farmyard.• Mrs Wright reversed out into the road again and drove off past the church. reverse roles/positions• As a practical matter, the more we reverse roles, the better the parenting balance.reversereverse2 ●○○ AWL noun 1 → the reverse2 → in reverse3 → go into reverse/put something into reverse4 car [uncountable]TTC the position of the gears in a vehicle that makes it go backwardsinto/in reverse Put the car into reverse.5 defeat [countable] formalBEAT/DEFEAT a defeat or a problem that delays your plans SYN setback Losing the Senate vote was a serious reverse for the president.6 other side [singular]BACK OF something the less important side or the back of an object that has two sideson the reverse The British ten-pence coin has a lion on the reverse.Examples from the Corpus
reverse• Financial reverses forced Thomas to sell his business.• It is the conglomerate process in reverse.• The process can work in reverse.• The parasympathetic nervous system does the reverse, preparing the body for more vegetative activities.• But in fact the reverse is true.• But for others, the reverse was true: it was technical drawing which attracted them into engineering.• The reverse side has two eagles with a dead hare.• Union commander McDowell reacted to this reverse by renewing his forward pressure.into/in reverse• The change at Everton is as incredible as the transformation at Blackburn, in reverse.• Maria put the car into reverse and drove away.• Net cash position Practically everything that I have said about borrowing is applicable to cash, in reverse.• To take these points in reverse order, the initiation of the student into the rational life should occur in two directions.• If it was done wrong, the migration west might go right into reverse.• He drove forward, shifted into reverse, gassed it and braked.• When the trend went into reverse, it was London which fell first and furthest.• That works in reverse as well, when he or she innocently presumes to inject science at Sunday school.• History would be written in reverse.on the reverse• Should you wish to apply for assistance with fees, please complete Section D on the reverse of the application form.• Awards made during and after World War Two have the year of the award engraved on the reverse lower limb.• I don't suppose you looked at what's left of the lettering on the reverse.• It is strictly limited to 15,000, and each plate is individually numbered on the reverse.• Often the paintings appear to be signed on the reverse and occasionally a date is inscribed there also.• White spots on the reverse side of a tiger's ears.• It was on the reverse side of a police interview with Reza Eslaminia. reversereverse3 ●○○ AWL adjective [only before noun] 1 → reverse order/situation/process etc2 → the reverse sideExamples from the Corpus
reverse• The diode D1 is reverse biased during this period and plays no part in the action.• The fact is that both the benefits of affirmative action and the white-male fears of reverse discrimination have been exaggerated.• His advice had the reverse effect to that intended.• Their voting preferences were, of course, in the reverse order.• To remove just about everything, and run it to waste, the ultimate is a reverse osmosis unit at around £250.• A bridge of four diodes, connected in reverse parallel with the switching transistors, provides the path for freewheeling currents.• In some families the father goes out to work and the mother stays at home. In others, the reverse situation is true.• The effect achieves what we players call reverse swing.From Longman Business Dictionaryreversere‧verse1 /rɪˈvɜːs-ɜːrs/ verb [transitive]1to change something such as a decision, judgement, or process so that it is the opposite of what it was beforeWill the government reverse its decision to lower oil prices?The California Supreme Court reversed a lower court ruling that blocked a resort hotel from being built.The company had been struggling to reverse huge losses.2reverse direction/course to develop or do something in the opposite way to beforeBond prices abruptly reversed direction and fell.The President reversed course and cut a deal with Congress.3reverse the charges British English to make a telephone call which is paid for by the person you are telephoningSYNcall collect AmE→ See Verb tablereversereverse2 noun1the reverse the exact opposite of somethingU.S. law on this matter is virtually the reverse of British law.2[countable] formal a defeat or problem that delays your plansLosing the Senate vote was a serious reverse for the President.reversereverse3 adjective [only before a noun] used to describe something that is the opposite of something elseLast year, we had a lot of supply and not much demand. But this year we had the reverse situation.Origin reverse3 (1300-1400) Old French revers, from Latin reversus, past participle of revertere; → REVERT 