opposite meaning and definition

OPPOSITE noun

Definition of opposite (noun)

1. a word that expresses a meaning opposed to the meaning of another word, in which case the two words are antonyms of each other
   • "to him the antonym of `gay' was `depressed'"
   • synonyms: antonym, opposite word
   • antonym: equivalent word
2. a relation of direct opposition
   • "we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true"
   • synonyms: contrary, reverse
3. a contestant that you are matched against
   • synonyms: opponent, opposition
4. something inverted in sequence or character or effect
   • "when the direct approach failed he tried the inverse"
   • synonyms: inverse

OPPOSITE adjective

Definition of opposite (adjective)

1. being directly across from each other; facing
   • "And I on the opposite shore will be, ready to ride and spread the alarm"- Longfellow; "we lived on opposite sides of the street"; "at opposite poles"
2. of leaves etc; growing in pairs on either side of a stem
   • "opposite leaves"
   • synonyms: paired
   • antonym: alternate
3. moving or facing away from each other
   • "looking in opposite directions"; "they went in opposite directions"
4. the other one of a complementary pair
   • "the opposite sex"; "the two chess kings are set up on squares of opposite colors"
5. 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"- Charles Reade
6. 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"
   • synonyms: diametric, diametrical, polar

OPPOSITE adverb

Definition of opposite (adverb)

1. 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"
   • synonyms: face-to-face