Opposite Definition and Meaning
By Urooj Arif & Fiza Rafique — Updated on March 5, 2024
"Opposite" refers to something completely different or contrary in nature, direction, or position. e.g., The library is on the opposite side of the park from the school.
Table of Contents
Opposite Definitions
Opposite means being entirely different in nature or character.
The opposite colors, black and white, contrast sharply.
Opposite is used for something that is reverse or contrary.
His reaction was the opposite of what I expected.
Opposite describes being located directly across from something.
The bank is on the street opposite the supermarket.
Opposite denotes being in a contrasting or opposing relationship.
Summer and winter are opposite seasons.
Opposite involves having a different effect or result.
The medicine had the opposite effect on her.
Placed or located directly across from something else or from each other
Opposite sides of a building.
Facing the other way; moving or tending away from each other
Opposite directions.
Altogether different, as in nature, quality, or significance
The effect of the medication was opposite to that intended.
Sharply contrasting; antithetical
Had opposite views on the subject.
Growing in pairs on either side of a stem
Opposite leaves.
Arranged on the same radius as another part, as stamens and petals.
One that is opposite or contrary to another.
An opponent or antagonist.
An antonym.
In an opposite position
They sat opposite at the table.
Across from or facing
Parked the car opposite the bank.
In a complementary dramatic role to
He played opposite her.
Located directly across from something else, or from each other.
She saw him walking on the opposite side of the road.
(botany) Of leaves and flowers, positioned directly across from each other on a stem.
Facing in the other direction.
They were moving in opposite directions.
Extremely different; inconsistent; contrary; repugnant; antagonistic.
Something opposite or contrary to something else.
A person or thing that is entirely different from or the reverse of someone or something else; used to show contrast between two people or two things.
She is the opposite of her ex-boyfriend who abused her both physically and verbally nearly every day for five years. She now works as an advocate and supportive listener for others who have endured abusive relationships.
An opponent.
An antonym.
"Up" is the opposite of "down".
(mathematics) An additive inverse.
In an opposite position.
I was on my seat and she stood opposite.
Where's the bus station? -Over there, just opposite.
Facing, or across from.
He lives opposite the pub.
In a complementary role to.
He played opposite Marilyn Monroe.
(television) On another channel at the same time.
The game show Just Men! aired opposite The Young and the Restless on CBS.
Placed over against; standing or situated over against or in front; facing; - often with to; as, a house opposite to the Exchange; the concert hall and the state theater stood opposite each other on the plaza.
Situated on the other end of an imaginary line passing through or near the middle of an intervening space or object; - of one object with respect to another; as, the office is on the opposite side of town; - also used both to describe two objects with respect to each other; as, the stores were on opposite ends of the mall.
Extremely different; inconsistent; contrary; repugnant; antagonistic.
Novels, by which the reader is misled into another sort of pleasure opposite to that which is designed in an epic poem.
Particles of speech have divers, and sometimes almost opposite, significations.
Set over against each other, but separated by the whole diameter of the stem, as two leaves at the same node.
One who opposes; an opponent; an antagonist.
The opposites of this day's strife.
That which is opposed or contrary in character or meaning; as, sweetness and its opposite; up is the opposite of down.
The virtuous man meets with more opposites and opponents than any other.
Two words that express opposing concepts;
To him the opposite of gay was depressed
A relation of direct opposition;
We thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true
A contestant that you are matched against
Something inverted in sequence or character or effect;
When the direct approach failed he tried the inverse
Being directly across from each other; facing;
And I on the opposite shore will be, ready to ride and spread the alarm
We lived on opposite sides of the street
At opposite poles
Of leaves etc; growing in pairs on either side of a stem;
Opposite leaves
Moving or facing away from each other;
Looking in opposite directions
They went in opposite directions
Altogether different in nature or quality or significance;
The medicine's effect was opposite to that intended
It is said that opposite characters make a union happiest
Characterized by opposite extremes; completely opposed;
In diametric contradiction to his claims
Diametrical (or opposite) points of view
Opposite meanings
Extreme and indefensible polar positions
Directly facing each other;
The two photographs lay face-to-face on the table
Lived all their lives in houses face-to-face across the street
They sat opposite at the table
Opposite refers to facing or being on the other side.
She sat opposite him at the table.
Opposite can describe being in a contrary position or direction.
They walked in opposite directions after the meeting.
Opposite pertains to being diametrically different in comparison.
Their opinions on the subject were opposite.
Opposite can mean having a position or direction facing another.
The two chairs were placed opposite each other.
Opposite can refer to being antithetical or contradictory.
To be careless is the opposite of being careful.
Opposite Snonyms
Inverse
Opposite or contrary in position, direction, order, or effect.
The relationship between the variables is inverse.
Contrary
Diametrically different; of an opposite kind.
His actions are contrary to his words.
Contradictory
Mutually opposed or inconsistent.
The statements made by the witnesses were contradictory.
Diametric
(Of opposites) complete; absolute.
Their opinions were diametric, leading to frequent debates.
Antithetical
Directly opposed or contrasted; mutually incompatible.
Their views are almost antithetical to one another.
Antagonistic
Showing or feeling active opposition or hostility toward someone or something.
Their interests are not only different but antagonistic.
Reverse
Going in or turned toward the direction opposite to that previously stated.
To undo the damage, a reverse course of action is necessary.
Polar
Directly opposite in character or tendency.
Their personalities are polar, yet they get along well.
Counter
Contrary; in opposition.
The counter argument was persuasive and well-reasoned.
Antipodal
Relating to or situated on the opposite side of the earth.
Culturally, their practices are almost antipodal to ours.
Opposite Idioms & Phrases
The opposite effect
Producing a result that is contrary to the intended outcome.
The new policy had the opposite effect and decreased productivity.
Opposite attract
People who are very different from each other often find themselves drawn together.
They were a quiet, introverted person and a loud, extroverted person – truly a case of opposites attract.
Look in the opposite direction
To ignore or avoid dealing with something.
When it came to his financial troubles, he chose to look in the opposite direction.
Opposite sides of the coin
Representing two contrasting or different aspects of the same situation.
In any debate, you will find arguments on opposite sides of the coin.
At opposite poles
In a state of complete disagreement or difference.
Their opinions on how to run the company were at opposite poles.
Go in the opposite direction
To choose a completely different course of action or path.
After years in finance, he decided to go in the opposite direction and pursue art.
On the opposite end
Being completely different or contrary in position, direction, or order.
Their political views are on the opposite end of the spectrum.
The opposite side of the argument
A viewpoint or stance that contradicts or opposes another.
It's important to consider the opposite side of the argument before making a decision.
Opposite in nature
Having a completely different character or quality.
Though twins, they were opposite in nature – one cheerful, the other serious.
Facing the opposite way
Looking, moving, or positioned in a direction that is completely different from another.
They were facing the opposite way, missing the stunning sunset behind them.
The exact opposite
Being completely and utterly different in every way.
Her calm and collected demeanor was the exact opposite of his frenetic energy.
Turn to the opposite side
To change one's position or viewpoint to the contrary.
For a better view, she turned to the opposite side of the balcony.
From the opposite perspective
Looking at a situation or problem from a completely different point of view.
Sometimes, it helps to consider things from the opposite perspective.
Meet at opposite ends
To come together from different starting points or perspectives.
Their ideas seemed to meet at opposite ends, forming a comprehensive plan.
Sit on opposite ends
To be physically or figuratively positioned far apart from each other.
At the family gathering, the feuding brothers sat on opposite ends of the table.
Swing to the opposite extreme
To change suddenly or dramatically to a completely different position or state.
The political climate seems to swing to the opposite extreme with each election.
The opposite field
A different area of study, interest, or expertise.
He started his career in engineering but ended up working in the opposite field of marketing.
The opposite bank
The other side of a river or stream.
They set up camp on the opposite bank of the river.
Opposite number
A person holding the same position or performing the same function in a different organization or context.
As a sales manager, she regularly meets with her opposite numbers from other companies.
Opposite Example Sentences
The opposite side of the paper was blank.
The cat and dog have opposite personalities.
She stood on the opposite corner, waiting.
They had opposite reactions to the movie.
Joy and sadness are opposite emotions.
The school is located opposite the playground.
Our house is opposite the local grocery store.
Their answers were opposite, yet both were correct.
The keys were in the opposite pocket.
He chose the opposite path to avoid the crowd.
The museum is directly opposite the train station.
Day and night are opposite phases of a day.
The two ideas are opposite in concept.
The opposite team played well in the game.
The wind blew in the opposite direction.
Common Curiosities
What is a stressed syllable in opposite?
The stressed syllable in "opposite" is "op."
What is the root word of opposite?
The root word is the Latin "oppositus," from "opponere."
What is the verb form of opposite?
"Opposite" is primarily used as an adjective or noun. The related verb could be "oppose."
What is the pronunciation of opposite?
Opposite is pronounced as /ˈɑː.pə.zɪt/ in American English.
What is the first form of opposite?
As an adjective or noun, "opposite" does not change, but the related verb "oppose" has "oppose" as its first form.
How many syllables are in opposite?
There are three syllables in "opposite."
What is the singular form of opposite?
The singular form is "opposite."
Why is it called opposite?
It is called "opposite" from the Latin "oppositus," past participle of "opponere," meaning "to set against" or "to place opposite." It denotes a position on the other side or a contrast in comparison to something else.
How is opposite used in a sentence?
"She sat opposite him to have a better view during the conversation."
What is another term for opposite?
Another term for "opposite" could be "contrary" or "antithesis."
How do we divide opposite into syllables?
Opposite is divided into syllables as op-po-site.
What part of speech is opposite?
"Opposite" can be used as an adjective, noun, and less commonly as a preposition.
What is the plural form of opposite?
The plural form is "opposites" when used as a noun.
Is opposite a noun or adjective?
"Opposite" can be both a noun and an adjective, depending on its use in a sentence.
Is opposite an abstract noun?
When used as a noun, "opposite" can be considered abstract as it represents a concept rather than a physical object.
Is opposite a negative or positive word?
"Opposite" is neutral; its connotation depends on the context in which it is used.
Is the opposite term a metaphor?
"Opposite" can be used metaphorically to describe contrasting qualities, situations, or ideas.
Is the word “opposite” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Opposite" can function as a direct object when used as a noun, e.g., "He always does the opposite of what is asked." It is not used as an indirect object.
Is opposite a countable noun?
When used as a noun, "opposite" is countable (e.g., there can be many opposites).
What is the third form of opposite?
For the verb "oppose," the third form is also "opposed."
Is opposite a vowel or consonant?
The word "opposite" starts with the vowel "o."
Is the word opposite imperative?
As an adjective or noun, "opposite" cannot form an imperative. Imperatives are formed with verbs.
Which preposition is used with opposite?
As a preposition, "opposite" can stand alone, but it can also be part of phrases like "opposite to" or "opposite of."
Which conjunction is used with opposite?
Conjunctions like "and," "but," or "or" can be used with "opposite" in compound sentences.
What is the second form of opposite?
For the verb "oppose," the second form is "opposed."
Is the word opposite Gerund?
"Opposite" is not a verb, so it does not have a gerund form. The related verb "oppose" would have "opposing" as its gerund form.
What is the opposite of opposite?
The opposite of "opposite" could be "same" or "similar."
Is opposite an adverb?
No, "opposite" is not typically used as an adverb. However, "oppositely" would be its adverbial form.
Is opposite a collective noun?
No, "opposite" is not a collective noun.
Which determiner is used with opposite?
Determiners such as "the," "an," "this," or "that" can be used with "opposite," depending on the context.
Which vowel is used before opposite?
The article "an" is used before "opposite" because it starts with a vowel sound.
Which article is used with opposite?
Both "a" (indefinite) and "the" (definite) can be used with "opposite," depending on whether it's being used in a specific or nonspecific context, e.g., "an opposite viewpoint" or "the opposite side."
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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.
Co-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.
