# reverse

> English word · Adjective · IPA /ɹɪˈvɜːs/ · frequency rank #3,843

## Definitions
1. Opposite, contrary; going in the opposite direction.
2. Pertaining to engines, vehicle movement etc. moving in a direction opposite to the usual direction.
3. To be in the non-default position; to be set for the lesser-used route.
4. Turned upside down; greatly disturbed.
5. Reversed.
6. In which cDNA synthetization is obtained from an RNA template.

## Etymology
From Middle English revers, from Anglo-Norman revers, Middle French revers, and their source, Latin reversus, perfect passive participle of reversō, from re- + versō. Doublet of revers.

## Easily confused with
- **rivers** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reverse-vs-rivers)
- **revise** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reverse-vs-revise)
- **revert** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reverse-vs-revert)
- **reverted** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reverse-vs-reverted)
- **Reese** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reese-vs-reverse)
- **revere** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/revere-vs-reverse)
- **reverb** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reverb-vs-reverse)
- **release** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/release-vs-reverse)
- **revenue** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/revenue-vs-reverse)
- **reserve** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reserve-vs-reverse)
- **revenge** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/revenge-vs-reverse)
- **referee** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/referee-vs-reverse)
- **remorse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/remorse-vs-reverse)
- **revered** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/revered-vs-reverse)
- **reverie** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reverie-vs-reverse)
- **reversal** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/reversal-vs-reverse)
- **rehearse** (https://plainspell.com/en/vs/rehearse-vs-reverse)

## Common misspellings (10)
`erverse`, `reevrse`, `reveres`, `reverrse`, `reversse`, `revesre`, `revrese`, `revverse`, `rreverse`, `rveerse`

## Source
Compiled from Wiktionary via kaikki.org (CC BY-SA). Data vintage: 2026-05-06.
Canonical page: https://plainspell.com/en/word/reverse