Meaning of opposite In English

• 0 completely different:

  • You'd never know they're sisters - they're completely opposite to each other in every way.

  • Police attempts to calm the violence had the opposite effect.

• 1 being in a position on the other side; facing:

  • My brother and I live on opposite sides of the city.

  • The map on the opposite page shows where these birds commonly breed.

  • They sat at opposite ends of the table (to/from each other), refusing to talk.

  • If you want to buy tickets, you need to go to the counter opposite.

  • Who owns that house opposite (= on the other side of the road)?

• 2 in a position facing someone or something but on the other side:

  • We're in the building opposite the government offices.

  • They sat opposite each other.

  • Put a tick opposite (= next to) the answer that you think is correct.

  • Katharine Hepburn played opposite Henry Fonda in many films.

• 3 something or someone that is completely different from another person or thing:

  • My father is a very calm person, but my mother is just the opposite.

  • She's turned out to be the exact opposite of what everyone expected.

  • The opposite of "fast" is "slow".

  • People say opposites attract.

• 4 in a position facing someone or something but on the other side:

  • She asked the man sitting opposite whether he'd mind if she opened the window.

  • The people who live opposite (= on the other side of the road) are always making a lot of noise.

• 5 completely different:

  • We turned and walked in the opposite direction.

  • People often believe the exact opposite of what you tell them.

  • His efforts to intimidate his enemies produced just the opposite effect (= made them braver).

• 6 being in a position on the other side; facing:

  • The two settlements are on opposite sides of the river.

  • We’re in the building opposite the gas station.

  • She asked the man sitting opposite if she could borrow his newspaper.

• 7 completely different:

  • opposite to sth This year's conference is completely opposite to last year's, which was very poorly attended.

  • The new rates of pay were intended to increase staff morale, but they had the opposite effect.

• 8 in a position on the other side to something:

  • the opposite side/end/edge to sth We're on the opposite side of the city to the airport.

• 9 facing you or facing someone or something:

  • If you want to buy tickets, you need to go to the counter opposite.

• 10 in a position facing someone or something but on the other side:

  • We're in the building opposite the government offices.

  • They sat opposite each other.

• 11 something or someone that is completely different from another person or thing:

  • the opposite of sth/sb She tends to do the opposite of what people expect.

  • The new CEO is the exact opposite of his predecessor.

  • We thought negotiations would be easy, but they were just the opposite.

• 12 in a position facing someone or something but on the other side:

  • The offices will be on this side of the road, and the warehouse will be built opposite.