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opposite Definition

op·po·site (äp′ə zit, -sit)

adjective

  1. set against, facing, or back to back; at the other end or side; in a contrary position or direction: often with to
  2. characterized by hostility or resistance
  3. different in every way; exactly contrary; antithetical
  4. Bot.
    1. growing in pairs, but separated by a stem
    2. having one part on the same radius as another, as a stamen in front of a petal

Etymology: OFr < L oppositus, pp. of opponere: see opponent

noun

anything opposed or opposite

adverb

on opposing sides or in an opposite position

  1. facing; across from
  2. Theater in a complementary role (of the opposite sex) to he played opposite her

opposite Related Forms

op′·po·sitely adverb op′·po·site·ness noun

opposite Synonyms

opposite

modif.

  1. Radically different

    contrary, antithetical, antithetic, reverse, inverse, converse, diametric, diametrical, antonymous, contrasting, contradictory, counter, conflicting, opposed, opposing, polar, poles apart, antipodal, antipodean, incompatible, irreconcilable; see also different 1.

    Antonyms same, synonymous, alike.

  2. In conflict

    adverse, inimical, hostile; see opposed, opposing 2.

  3. So situated as to seem to oppose

    facing, fronting, in front of, across from, on different sides, on opposite sides, in opposition to, on the other side, confronting, looking out on, against, front to front, back to back, nose to nose, on the farther side, retrograde, opposing, opposed, diametrical, vis-à-vis, en face (French), eyeball to eyeball*.

    Antonyms matched*, on the same side, side by side.

opposite Synonyms

opposite

n.

contradiction, contrary, converse, direct opposite, opposition, foil, vice versa, antithesis, antipodes, antistrophe, antonym, counter term, counterpart, inverse, reverse, adverse, the opposite pole, the other extreme, the other side, the opposite term, the opposite force, the opposite idea; see also contrast 2.

Antonyms alike*, same*, a related thing, a similar thing.

opposite is applied to things that are symmetrically opposed in position, direction, character, etc. they sat at opposite ends of the table; the opposite sex; contrary adds to this connotations of conflict or antagonism they hold contrary views; antithetical implies diametrical opposition so that the contrasted things are as far apart or as different as is possible our interests are completely antithetical; reverse applies to that which moves or faces in the opposite direction the reverse side of a fabric; antonymous is used specifically of words that are so opposed in meaning that each contradicts, reverses, or negates the other good and bad are antonymous terms

opposite Usage Examples

Converse of object

  • argue: Then last year, having decided on war, they argued the opposite: that sanctions were not working.
  • suggest: Indeed, opinion and attitude surveys tend to suggest the opposite.
  • do: However, I think the survey has actually done the opposite.
  • sit: Neil Kinnock, sitting opposite, roars with laughter.

Adjective modifier

  • polar: The exact polar opposite of the electronica inhabits the rest of the album.
  • exact: Surely, such control is the exact opposite of what the search engines should be looking for.
  • complete: There is every chance the next record will come out sounding the complete opposite!
  • extreme: The Baron had to return to Peking on Monday. ) Plessen and Müller were extreme opposites.

Modifies a noun

  • direction: Two rotary lobes rotate in opposite directions within a housing.
  • sex: I'm not good at reading the opposite sex.
  • side: On opposite side of the causeway is the almost round tunnel mouth for the draw off pipe.
  • extreme: On the negative side however, I veer to the opposite extreme.
  • corner: Kings Road starts in the opposite corner, Sloane Street on right.
  • pole: He also notes that there are not two mutually exclusive categories but rather two opposite poles of a spectrum.

Modifying Another Word

  • diametrically: This was diametrically opposite to what the theorists thought.
  • diagonally: The basic layout is a mirror-image L, with a seperate barn in the diagonally opposite corner.

Noun used with modifier

  • lane: Crossing the road, we went along the country lane opposite.
  • login: To login enter your details in the login panel opposite, or request access through the Registration page.
  • path: We crossed the country lane and walked uphill along the field edge along the signed path opposite.

Used with adjective complement

situate: In 1810 the mouth was situated almost opposite Aldrington church, close to the Hove border.