Convert vs. Revert — What's the Difference?
By Fiza Rafique & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 26, 2024
Convert involves changing from one form, function, or belief to another, while revert means to return to a previous state or condition.
Difference Between Convert and Revert
Table of Contents
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Key Differences
Convert signifies a process of change or transformation from one state, form, or belief system to another. This concept is often used in contexts such as religion, where an individual changes their faith, or in technology, where data is changed from one format to another. It implies a forward-moving action that results in something distinctly different from the original state. On the other hand, revert involves going back to a previous state, condition, or set of beliefs. It is a backward-moving action that undoes changes, returning something or someone to their original or a prior condition. This term is frequently used in the context of software changes being rolled back or people returning to previous habits after attempting to change them.
While convert is associated with transformation and often involves a deliberate decision or process leading to a new or altered state, revert emphasizes a return to an original or previously held state, condition, or set of beliefs. Conversion can be seen as progressive, involving adaptation or evolution, whereas reverting often carries a connotation of restoration or regression, depending on the context. For example, converting to a new religion involves adopting a new set of beliefs and practices, whereas reverting to a previous religion means going back to those original beliefs and practices.
The act of converting usually requires an active effort or intervention to effect change, such as converting a file format or converting to a new religion. It implies a departure from the original state towards something different. In contrast, reverting can sometimes happen passively or as a result of removing recent changes, like reverting to a previous version of a software application or reverting to old habits after a brief period of change.
The outcome of conversion is typically a new state that is different from the starting point, reflecting a significant change or transformation. This new state is often considered permanent or intended to be long-lasting, such as converting an industrial building into apartments. Conversely, reverting generally restores the original state or condition, as when a policy decision is reversed, returning to the status quo ante.
Both converting and reverting can have significant implications, whether personal, technological, or societal. However, the motivations, processes, and outcomes associated with each term are distinct: conversion is about change and moving forward, while reverting is about returning to a prior state or undoing changes.
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Comparison Chart
Definition
To change from one form, function, or belief to another.
To return to a previous state or condition.
Direction
Forward-moving, implies transformation.
Backward-moving, implies restoration.
Process
Active effort to effect a change.
Can be active or passive, often involves undoing changes.
Outcome
Results in a new or altered state.
Restores the original or a prior state.
Common Contexts
Religion, technology, energy conversion.
Software versions, habits, policies.
Compare with Definitions
Convert
To change something into a different form.
She converted the spare room into an office.
Revert
To go back to a previous state.
The software automatically reverts to a saved version after a crash.
Convert
To persuade someone to change their belief or position.
The debate aimed to convert skeptics.
Revert
To return to old habits or practices.
After trying to diet, she reverted to her old eating habits.
Convert
To adopt a new belief system.
He converted to Buddhism after years of study.
Revert
To regress to a former state.
Under stress, he reverted to childhood coping mechanisms.
Convert
To modify for a new or different purpose.
The factory was converted to produce solar panels.
Revert
To use ancestral traits or characteristics.
The cultivated plants reverted to their wild forms.
Convert
To change currency, units, or formats.
The software can convert PDFs into Word documents.
Revert
To restore the original condition.
The rented apartment must be reverted to its original state before moving out.
Convert
To change (something) into another form, substance, state, or product; transform
Convert water into ice.
Revert
To go back to a former condition, practice, subject, or belief
A meadow reverting to forest.
A reformed shoplifter reverting to old habits.
A speaker reverting to her opening remarks.
Convert
To change (something) from one use, function, or purpose to another; adapt to a new or different purpose
Convert a forest into farmland.
Revert
To resume using something that has been disused
Had to revert to the typewriter when the computer failed.
Convert
To persuade or induce to adopt a particular religion, faith, or belief
Convert pagans to Christianity.
Was converted to pacifism by the war.
Revert
(Law) To be returned to the former owner or to the former owner's heirs. Used of money or property.
Convert
To exchange for something of equal value
Convert assets into cash.
Revert
(Genetics) To undergo reversion.
Convert
To express (a quantity) in alternative units
Converting feet into meters.
Revert
Chiefly South Asian To reply.
Convert
(Logic) To transform (a proposition) by conversion.
Revert
To cause to go back to a former condition, practice, subject, or belief
"The doctor was reverted to the rank of Assistant Surgeon" (George Orwell).
Convert
(Law) To appropriate (another's property) without right to one's own use.
Revert
(Law) To return (an estate, for example) to the grantor or the grantor's heirs or successor.
Convert
To complete (a conversion, penalty shot, or free throw) successfully.
Revert
One who, or that which, reverts.
Convert
To score (a spare) in bowling.
Revert
(religion) One who reverts to that religion which he had adhered to before having converted to another
Convert
To undergo a conversion
We converted to Islam several years ago.
Revert
A convert to Islam.
Convert
To be converted
A sofa that converts into a bed.
Arms factories converting to peacetime production.
Revert
(computing) The act of reversion (of e.g. a database transaction or source control repository) to an earlier state.
We've found that git reverts are at least an order of magnitude faster than SVN reverse merges.
Convert
(Football) To make a conversion.
Revert
The skateboard maneuver of rotating the board 180 degrees or more while the wheels remain on the ground.
Convert
(Sports) To shoot and score a goal, especially immediately after receiving a pass or gaining control of a rebound.
Revert
To turn back, or turn to the contrary; to reverse.
Convert
One who has been converted, especially from one religion or belief to another.
Revert
To throw back; to reflect; to reverberate.
Convert
(transitive) To transform or change (something) into another form, substance, state, or product.
A kettle converts water into steam.
Revert
(transitive) To cause to return to a former condition.
Convert
(transitive) To change (something) from one use, function, or purpose to another.
He converted his garden into a tennis court.
Revert
To return; to come back.
If they attack, we will revert to the bunker.
Convert
(transitive) To induce (someone) to adopt a particular religion, faith, ideology or belief see also sense 11.
They converted her to Roman Catholicism on her deathbed.
Revert
(intransitive) To return to the possession of.
When a book goes out of print, rights revert from the publisher to the author.
Convert
(transitive) To exchange for something of equal value.
We converted our pounds into euros.
Revert
Of an estate: To return to its former owner, or to his or her heirs, when a grant comes to an end.
Convert
(transitive) To express (a quantity) in alternative units.
Revert
(transitive) To cause (a property or rights) to return to the previous owner.
Sometimes a publisher will automatically revert rights back to an author once a book has gone out of print.
Convert
(transitive) To express (a unit of measurement) in terms of another; to furnish a mathematical formula by which a quantity, expressed in the former unit, may be given in the latter.
How do you convert feet into metres?
Revert
(intransitive) To return to a former practice, condition, belief, etc.
Convert
To appropriate wrongfully or unlawfully; to commit the common law tort of conversion.
Revert
To return to an earlier or primitive type or state; to take on the traits or characters of an ancestral type.
Convert
To score extra points after (a try) by completing a conversion.
Revert
(intransitive) To change back, as from a soluble to an insoluble state or the reverse.
Phosphoric acid in certain fertilizers reverts.
Convert
To score (especially a penalty kick).
Revert
(intransitive) To take up again or return to a previous topic.
Convert
To score a spare.
Revert
To convert to Islam.
Convert
(intransitive) To undergo a conversion of religion, faith or belief see also sense 3.
We’ve converted to Methodism.
Revert
To reply (to correspondence, for example).
Please revert before Monday.
Convert
(intransitive) To become converted.
The chair converts into a bed.
Revert
To treat (a series, such as y = a + bx + cx2 + ..., where one variable y is expressed in powers of a second variable x), so as to find the second variable x expressed in a series arranged in powers of y.
Convert
To cause to turn; to turn.
Revert
To turn back, or to the contrary; to reverse.
Till happy chance revert the cruel scence.
The tumbling stream . . . Reverted, plays in undulating flow.
Convert
To change (one proposition) into another, so that what was the subject of the first becomes the predicate of the second.
Revert
To throw back; to reflect; to reverberate.
Convert
To turn into another language; to translate.
Revert
To return; to come back.
So that my arrowsWould have reverted to my bow again.
Convert
To increase one's individual score, especially from 50 runs (a fifty) to 100 runs (a century), or from a century to a double or triple century.
Revert
To return to the proprietor after the termination of a particular estate granted by him.
Convert
To perform the action that an online advertisement is intended to induce; to reach the point of conversion.
Each time a user clicks on one of your adverts, you will be charged the bid amount whether the user converts or not.
Revert
To return, wholly or in part, towards some preëxistent form; to take on the traits or characters of an ancestral type.
Convert
To transform a material or positional advantage into a win.
Revert
To change back, as from a soluble to an insoluble state or the reverse; thus, phosphoric acid in certain fertilizers reverts.
Convert
A person who has converted to a religion.
They were all converts to Islam.
Revert
One who, or that which, reverts.
An active promoter in making the East Saxons converts, or rather reverts, to the faith.
Convert
A person who is now in favour of something that he or she previously opposed or disliked.
I never really liked broccoli before, but now that I've tasted it the way you cook it, I'm a convert!
Revert
Go back to a previous state;
We reverted to the old rules
Convert
(Canadian football) The equivalent of a conversion in rugby
Revert
Undergo reversion, as in a mutation
Convert
To cause to turn; to turn.
O, which way shall I first convert myself?
Convert
To change or turn from one state or condition to another; to alter in form, substance, or quality; to transform; to transmute; as, to convert water into ice.
If the whole atmosphere were converted into water.
That still lessensThe sorrow, and converts it nigh to joy.
Convert
To change or turn from one belief or course to another, as from one religion to another or from one party or sect to another.
No attempt was made to convert the Moslems.
Convert
To produce the spiritual change called conversion in (any one); to turn from a bad life to a good one; to change the heart and moral character of (any one) from the controlling power of sin to that of holiness.
He which converteth the sinner from the error of his way shall save a soul from death.
Convert
To apply to any use by a diversion from the proper or intended use; to appropriate dishonestly or illegally.
When a bystander took a coin to get it changed, and converted it, [it was] held no larceny.
Convert
To exchange for some specified equivalent; as, to convert goods into money.
Convert
To change (one proposition) into another, so that what was the subject of the first becomes the predicate of the second.
Convert
To turn into another language; to translate.
Which story . . . Catullus more elegantly converted.
Convert
To be turned or changed in character or direction; to undergo a change, physically or morally.
If Nebo had had the preaching that thou hast, they [the Neboites] would have converted.
A red dust which converth into worms.
The public hopeAnd eye to thee converting.
Convert
A person who is converted from one opinion or practice to another; a person who is won over to, or heartily embraces, a creed, religious system, or party, in which he has not previously believed; especially, one who turns from the controlling power of sin to that of holiness, or from unbelief to Christianity.
The Jesuits did not persuade the converts to lay aside the use of images.
Convert
A lay friar or brother, permitted to enter a monastery for the service of the house, but without orders, and not allowed to sing in the choir.
Convert
A person who has been converted to another religious or political belief
Convert
Change the nature, purpose, or function of something;
Convert lead into gold
Convert hotels into jails
Convert slaves to laborers
Convert
Change from one system to another or to a new plan or policy;
We converted from 220 to 110 Volt
Convert
Change religious beliefs, or adopt a religious belief;
She converted to Buddhism
Convert
Exchange or replace with another, usually of the same kind or category;
Could you convert my dollars into pounds?
He changed his name
Convert centimeters into inches
Convert holdings into shares
Convert
Cause to adopt a new or different faith;
The missionaries converted the Indian population
Convert
Score an extra point or points after touchdown by kicking the ball through the uprights or advancing the ball into the endzone;
Smith converted and his team won
Convert
Complete successfully;
Score a penalty shot or free throw
Convert
Score (a spare)
Convert
Make (someone) agree, understand, or realize the truth or validity of something;
He had finally convinced several customers of the advantages of his product
Convert
Exchange a penalty for a less severe one
Convert
Change in nature, purpose, or function; especially undergo a chemical change;
The substance converts to an acid
Common Curiosities
What does it mean to convert something?
To convert something means to change it into a different form, function, or belief system.
What does revert mean?
Revert means to return to a previous state, condition, or set of practices.
Is converting a one-way process?
While converting implies a change to a new state, it is not necessarily one-way, as individuals can change beliefs or functions multiple times.
What causes a system or person to revert?
Reversion can be caused by external factors, failure to adapt, or a conscious decision to return to a prior state.
What are the implications of converting energy sources?
Converting energy sources, like from fossil fuels to renewable energy, has significant environmental and economic implications.
Can organizations convert or revert policies?
Yes, organizations can convert to new policies or revert to previous ones, often in response to changing circumstances or feedback.
How does technology use the concept of revert?
In technology, reverting often refers to rolling back software to a previous version to undo changes or restore functionality.
What is the difference between converting and adapting?
Converting involves a fundamental change, while adapting implies adjusting without changing the core nature or belief.
Can a person be both converted and reverted?
Yes, a person can convert to a new belief or system and later revert to their original beliefs or system.
What is a common example of conversion in religion?
A common example is when an individual adopts a new religion, significantly altering their belief system and practices.
Can habits be reverted as well as converted?
Yes, habits can be both converted (changed) and reverted (returned to a previous state).
How does cultural context affect conversion and reversion?
Cultural context can influence the reasons for and perceptions of converting or reverting, especially in matters of religion or social norms.
Can landscapes revert to their natural state?
Yes, landscapes can revert to their natural state if human influence is removed or reduced, allowing ecological processes to restore natural conditions.
Is reverting always negative?
Not necessarily; reverting can be positive if it restores desirable conditions or corrects a problematic change.
What role does intention play in conversion and reversion?
Intention is key in conversion, often driven by a desire for change; reversion may or may not be intentional, depending on the context.
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Written by
Fiza RafiqueFiza Rafique is a skilled content writer at AskDifference.com, where she meticulously refines and enhances written pieces. Drawing from her vast editorial expertise, Fiza ensures clarity, accuracy, and precision in every article. Passionate about language, she continually seeks to elevate the quality of content for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
