Adjacent Words

Reversal definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

REVERS'AL, a. [See Reverse.] Intended to reverse; implying reverse.
REVERS'AL, n. [from reverse.] A change or overthrowing; as the reversal of a judgment, which amounts to an official declaration that it is false. So we speak of the reversal of an attainder or of an outlawry, by which the sentence is rendered void.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a change from one state to the opposite state; "there was a reversal of autonomic function"
2: an unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating [syn: reverse, reversal, setback, blow, black eye]
3: turning in an opposite direction or position; "the reversal of the image in the lens" [syn: reversal, turn around]
4: a decision to reverse an earlier decision [syn: reversal, change of mind, flip-flop, turnabout, turnaround]
5: a judgment by a higher court that the judgment of a lower court was incorrect and should be set aside [ant: affirmation]
6: turning in the opposite direction [syn: reversion, reverse, reversal, turnabout, turnaround]
7: the act of reversing the order or place of [syn: transposition, reversal]
8: a major change in attitude or principle or point of view; "an about-face on foreign policy" [syn: about-face, volte- face, reversal, policy change]

Merriam Webster's

noun Date: 15th century 1. an act or the process of reversing 2. a conversion of a photographic positive into a negative or vice versa 3. a change (as of fortune) often for the worse

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Reversal Re*ver"sal, n. [From Reverse.] 1. The act of reversing; the causing to move or face in an opposite direction, or to stand or lie in an inverted position; as, the reversal of a rotating wheel; the reversal of objects by a convex lens. 2. A change or overthrowing; as, the reversal of a judgment, which amounts to an official declaration that it is false; the reversal of an attainder, or of an outlawry, by which the sentence is rendered void. --Blackstone.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Reversal Re*ver"sal, a. [See Reverse.] Intended to reverse; implying reversal. [Obs.] --Bp. Burnet.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(reversals) 1. A reversal of a process, policy, or trend is a complete change in it. The Financial Times says the move represents a complete reversal of previous US policy... N-COUNT: oft N of n 2. When there is a role reversal or a reversal of roles, two people or groups exchange their positions or functions. When children end up taking care of their parents, it is a strange role reversal indeed. N-COUNT: n N, N of n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

n. Repeal, revocation, annulment, change, overthrowing.

Moby Thesaurus

abolishment, abolition, about-face, about-turn, abrogation, accommodation, adaptation, adjustment, afterthoughts, alchemy, alteration, amelioration, annulment, apostasy, assimilation, assumption, atavism, back track, back trail, backing, backing off, backing out, backing up, backset, backsliding, backup, backward deviation, bafflement, balk, becoming, better thoughts, betterment, bouleversement, break, cancel, canceling, cancellation, cassation, change, change of heart, change of mind, change-over, changeableness, check, checkmate, comedown, confusion, constructive change, continuity, conversion, countermand, counterorder, defeasance, defection, degeneration, degenerative change, descent, deterioration, deviation, difference, discomfiture, discontinuity, disenchantment, divergence, diversification, diversion, diversity, down, ectropion, eversion, falling back, fitting, flip, flip-flop, foil, frustration, gradual change, growth, improvement, introversion, intussusception, invagination, invalidation, inversion, lapse, mature judgment, melioration, mitigation, modification, modulation, naturalization, nullification, overthrow, overturning, passage, progress, pronation, qualification, radical change, re-creation, re-formation, realignment, rebuff, recall, recantation, recidivation, recidivism, reclamation, reconversion, recrudescence, recurrence, redesign, reduction, reform, reformation, regress, regression, rehabilitation, reinstatement, relapse, remaking, renege, renewal, repeal, repulse, rescinding, rescindment, rescission, reshaping, resolution, restitution, restoration, restructuring, resupination, retraction, retrocession, retroflexion, retrogradation, retrogression, retroversion, return, returning, reverse, reverse of fortune, reversing, reversion, reverting, revival, revivification, revocation, revoke, revokement, revolution, revulsion, right-about, right-about-face, rout, second thoughts, setback, setting aside, severe check, shift, slipping back, sudden change, supination, suspension, swingaround, switch, switch-over, tergiversating, tergiversation, throwback, topsy-turviness, topsy-turvydom, total change, transformation, transit, transition, transposal, transposition, turn, turnabout, turnaround, turning, turning back, turning backwards, turning inside out, turning into, turning inward, turning over, upheaval, vacation, vacatur, variation, variety, violent change, voidance, voiding, volte-face, waiver, waiving, withdrawal, worsening, write-off