opposite Meaning, Definition & Usage

  1. noun a word that expresses a meaning opposed to the meaning of another word, in which case the two words are antonyms of each other
    opposite word; antonym.
    • to him the antonym of `gay' was `depressed'
  2. noun a relation of direct opposition
    contrary; reverse.
    • we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true
  3. noun a contestant that you are matched against
    opposition; opponent.
  4. noun something inverted in sequence or character or effect
    inverse.
    • when the direct approach failed he tried the inverse
  5. adjective satellite 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
  6. adjective of leaves etc; growing in pairs on either side of a stem
    paired.
    • opposite leaves
  7. adjective satellite moving or facing away from each other
    • looking in opposite directions
    • they went in opposite directions
  8. adjective satellite the other one of a complementary pair
    • the opposite sex
    • the two chess kings are set up on squares of opposite colors
  9. adjective satellite 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
  10. adjective satellite characterized by opposite extremes; completely opposed
    polar; diametrical; diametric.
    • in diametric contradiction to his claims
    • diametrical (or opposite) points of view
    • opposite meanings
    • extreme and indefensible polar positions
  11. adverb directly facing each other
    face-to-face.
    • 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

WordNet

Op"po*site adjective
Etymology
F., fr. L. oppositus, p. p. of opponere. See Opponent.
Definitions
  1. Placed over against; standing or situated over against or in front; facing; -- often with to; as, a house opposite to the Exchange.
  2. Applied to the other of two things which are entirely different; other; as, the opposite sex; the opposite extreme.
  3. Extremely different; inconsistent; contrary; repugnant; antagonistic.
    Novels, by which the reader is misled into another sort of pieasure opposite to that which is designed in an epic poem. Dryden.
    Particles of speech have divers, and sometimes almost opposite, significations. Locke.
  4. (Bot.) (a) Set over against each other, but separated by the whole diameter of the stem, as two leaves at the same node. (b) Placed directly in front of another part or organ, as a stamen which stands before a petal.
Op"po*site noun
Definitions
  1. One who opposes; an opponent; an antagonist. Obs.
    The opposites of this day's strife. Shak.
  2. That which is opposed or contrary; as, sweetness and its opposite.
    The virtuous man meets with more opposites and opponents than any other. Landor.

Webster 1913