op·po·site ( p  -z t)adj.1. Placed or located directly across from something else or from each other: opposite sides of a building. 2. Facing the other way; moving or tending away from each other: opposite directions. 3. Being the other of two complementary or mutually exclusive things: the opposite sex; an opposite role to the lead in the play. 4. a. Altogether different, as in nature, quality, or significance: The effect of the medication was opposite to that intended. b. Sharply contrasting; antithetical: had opposite views on the subject. 5. Botany Growing in pairs on either side of a stem: opposite leaves. n.1. One that is opposite or contrary to another. 2. An opponent or antagonist. 3. An antonym. adv. In an opposite position: They sat opposite at the table. prep.1. Across from or facing: parked the car opposite the bank. 2. In a complementary dramatic role to: He played opposite her.
[Middle English, from Old French, from Latin oppositus, past participle of opp nere, oppose; see oppose.]
oppo·site·ly adv. oppo·site·ness n. Synonyms: opposite, contrary, antithetical, contradictory
These adjectives mean marked by a natural or innate and irreconcilable opposition. Two things that are altogether different are opposite: Antonyms are words of opposite meaning. "It is said that opposite characters make a union happiest" Charles Reade.
Contrary stresses extreme divergence: Democrats and Republicans often hold contrary opinions.
Antithetical emphasizes diametrical opposition: engaged in practices entirely antithetical to their professed beliefs.
Contradictory implies denial or inconsistency: "contradictory attributes of unjust justice and loving vindictiveness" John Morley. |
opposite Adjective 1. situated on the other or further side 2. facing or going in contrary directions: he saw another small craft heading the opposite way 3. completely different: I have a different, in fact, opposite view on this subject 4. Maths (of a side in a triangle) facing a specified angle Noun a person or thing that is opposite; antithesis prep facing; across from Adverb in an opposite position: fragments smashed through the windows of the house opposite
opposite (p-zt) Arranged as one of a pair on either side of a stem or twig. Maple and ash trees have opposite leaves. Compare alternate. | opposite detail of a field mint (Menta arvensis) plant |
ThesaurusLegend: Synonyms Related Words Antonyms | Noun | 1. |  opposite - 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'"word - a unit of language that native speakers can identify; "words are the blocks from which sentences are made"; "he hardly said ten words all morning" direct antonym - antonyms that are commonly associated (e.g., `wet' and `dry') indirect antonym - antonyms whose opposition is mediated (e.g., the antonymy of `wet' and `parched' is mediated by the similarity of `parched' to `dry') | | 2. |  opposite - a relation of direct opposition; "we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true" | | 3. |  opposite - a contestant that you are matched againstcontestant - a person who participates in competitions | | 4. |  opposite - something inverted in sequence or character or effect; "when the direct approach failed he tried the inverse"additive inverse - (mathematics) one of a pair of numbers whose sum is zero; the additive inverse of -5 is +5 multiplicative inverse, reciprocal - (mathematics) one of a pair of numbers whose product is 1: the reciprocal of 2/3 is 3/2; the multiplicative inverse of 7 is 1/7 | | Adj. | 1. | opposite - 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"other - not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied; "today isn't any other day"- the White Queen; "the construction of highways and other public works"; "he asked for other employment"; "any other person would tell the truth"; "his other books are still in storage"; "then we looked at the other house"; "hearing was good in his other ear"; "the other sex"; "she lived on the other side of the street from me"; "went in the other direction" | | 2. | opposite - of leaves etc; growing in pairs on either side of a stem; "opposite leaves"alternate - of leaves and branches etc; first on one side and then on the other in two ranks along an axis; not paired; "stems with alternate leaves" | | 3. | opposite - moving or facing away from each other; "looking in opposite directions"; "they went in opposite directions"other - not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied; "today isn't any other day"- the White Queen; "the construction of highways and other public works"; "he asked for other employment"; "any other person would tell the truth"; "his other books are still in storage"; "then we looked at the other house"; "hearing was good in his other ear"; "the other sex"; "she lived on the other side of the street from me"; "went in the other direction" | | 4. | opposite - the other one of a complementary pair; "the opposite sex"; "the two chess kings are set up on squares of opposite colors"other - not the same one or ones already mentioned or implied; "today isn't any other day"- the White Queen; "the construction of highways and other public works"; "he asked for other employment"; "any other person would tell the truth"; "his other books are still in storage"; "then we looked at the other house"; "hearing was good in his other ear"; "the other sex"; "she lived on the other side of the street from me"; "went in the other direction" | | 5. | opposite - 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 Readedifferent - unlike in nature or quality or form or degree; "took different approaches to the problem"; "came to a different conclusion"; "different parts of the country"; "on different sides of the issue"; "this meeting was different from the earlier one" | | 6. | opposite - 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"different - unlike in nature or quality or form or degree; "took different approaches to the problem"; "came to a different conclusion"; "different parts of the country"; "on different sides of the issue"; "this meeting was different from the earlier one" | | Adv. | 1. | opposite - 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 adjective 2. different, conflicting, opposed, contrasted, contrasting, unlike, differing, contrary, diverse, adverse, at odds, contradictory, inconsistent, dissimilar, divergent, irreconcilable, at variance, poles apart, diametrically opposed, antithetical, streets apart << OPPOSITE alike preposition 4. (often with to) facing, face to face with, across from, eyeball to eyeball with ( informal)  Translations
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opposite [ˈɔpəzɪt] adj → opuesto, contrario; [house etc] → de enfrente
opposite [ˈɔpəzɪt] adj → opposé(e); [house etc] → d'en face
opposite [ˈɔpəzɪt] adj [house, door] → gegenüberliegend; [end, direction] → entgegengesetzt; [point of view, effect] → gegenteilig
opposite [ˈɔpəzɪt] adj → opposto/a; [house etc] → di fronte
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