opposite
gb/ˈɑpəzɪt/ us/ˈɑpəzɪt/
A1
English
~ 2300
Senses
0 senses
adjective
A2
property
1
Completely different or contrary
Completely different from something else.
Usage pattern:
[something] is opposite [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'opposite' with 'across from' in spatial contexts; while related, 'opposite' here refers to difference, not position.
Synonyms
contrary (Slightly more formal and often used for opinions or tendencies.)
Antonyms
similar (Indicates that two things are alike rather than different.)
Collocations
opposite direction
|opposite side
|opposite meaning
|opposite effect
Themes
comparison
|directions
|logic
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The two politicians have opposite views on the issue.
- North is the opposite direction to south.
- Her cheerful mood was the opposite of his sadness.
Learner examples
- Black is the opposite color of white.
- Hot is the opposite of cold.
- Left is the opposite direction of right.
preposition
A1
relation
2
Facing and across from
Directly across from someone or something.
Usage pattern:
[something] is opposite [something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes use 'in front of' instead of 'opposite'; 'in front of' can imply facing the same direction, while 'opposite' implies facing each other.
Synonyms
across from (Common in American English; more explicitly spatial.)
Antonyms
next to (Means beside rather than facing across from.)
Collocations
sit opposite
|directly opposite
|opposite side
Themes
directions
|locations
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- She sat opposite him at the dinner table.
- The bank is opposite the post office.
- My desk is directly opposite the window.
Learner examples
- The school is opposite the park.
- He sits opposite me in class.
- The shop is opposite the bus stop.
Noun
A2
entity
3
Something completely different
Someone or something that is completely different from someone or something else.
Synonyms
antithesis (More formal and often used in academic contexts.)
Antonyms
equivalent (Indicates something that is the same in value or meaning.)
Collocations
complete opposite
|polar opposite
|exact opposite
Themes
comparison
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- Her style is the complete opposite of mine.
- In many ways, he’s the polar opposite of his brother.
- The result was the exact opposite of what we expected.
Learner examples
- My sister is the opposite of me.
- Summer is the opposite of winter.
- The result was the opposite of our plan.
adverb
A1
relation
4
In a facing position across from
Across from someone or something and facing them.
Synonyms
across (Often used in the same spatial sense, but less specific about facing direction.)
Antonyms
alongside (Means side-by-side rather than facing.)
Collocations
directly opposite
Themes
directions
|space
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- They live opposite, so we see each other often.
- The café sits opposite, across the narrow street.
- He placed the chair opposite so they could talk easily.
Learner examples
- My house is opposite.
- She sits opposite in class.
- The shop is opposite.
Grammar
Dictionary form
opposite
IPA
GB/ˈɑpəzɪt/
US/ˈɑpəzɪt/
Syllables & stress
op - pos - ite (3 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (op)
Word forms
Adjective
- Base: opposite
Noun
- Base: opposite
- Plural: opposite, opposites
Word family
Forms
opposites
noun
Related words
Negative and opposite forms
same
adjective A1
Advanced or less common
oppositional
adjective
Expressions
diametrically opposed
1/dˌaɪəmˈɛtɹɪkli əpˈoʊzd/
fixed phrase
formal
Completely opposed in nature or opinion
Totally and directly against something else in opinion or nature.
Examples
- Their views are diametrically opposed on this issue.
- These two ideas are diametrically opposed.
opposite number
1/ˈɑpəzɪt nˈʌmbɚ/
fixed phrase
Equivalent person in another group
Someone with the same job or role in a different place or group.
Examples
- The French ambassador met with his American opposite number.
- I spoke to my opposite number in the London office.
the exact opposite
1/ðə ɪɡzˈækt ˈɑpəzɪt/
fixed phrase
Something totally different from another thing
Completely different from something else.
Examples
- What happened was the exact opposite of what we planned.
- Her opinion is the exact opposite of mine.
polar opposite
1/pˈoʊlɚ ˈɑpəzɪt/
fixed phrase
a single complete opposite
Something or someone that is completely different from another thing or person.
Examples
- They are polar opposites in personality.
- His new job is the polar opposite of his old one.
- This outcome is polar opposite to what we expected.
- This quiet village is the polar opposite of the busy city.
- Her lifestyle now is the polar opposite of what it was ten years ago.