Meanings
reversal1
plural reversals
- countableuncountableThe state of being reversed.
- countableuncountableAn instance of reversing.
- countableuncountableA change to an opposite direction.
Running via Aston would require a reversal at New Street and this will be taken into account during the planning and normal industry testing processes.
2019 October, Tony Miles, “Chase Line service to be split next May”, in Modern Railways, page 171 more example
It's a 58-minute journey with seven intermediate stops, including a reversal at Cromer - another popular destination. The train starts to empty at North Walsham, and then there is an exodus at Cromer. The coach is almost empty for the final few miles into Sheringham.
2025 October 15, 'Mystery Shopper', “About Anglia... and high scores”, in RAIL, number 1046, page 54 - countableuncountableA change in fortune; a change from being successful to having problems.
- countableuncountablecard gamesA rule in Tycoon where a three of a particular suit (most commonly spades) can beat a single joker. During revolution, most rulesets instead use a two of that suit to do this.
Synonyms: giant kill
reversal2
- not comparableobsoleteIntended to reverse; implying reversal.
For after his death there were reversal letters found among his papers from the Duke of Anjou
a. 1716 (date written), [Gilbert] Burnet, edited by [Gilbert Burnet Jr.], Bishop Burnet’s History of His Own Time. […], volume (please specify |volume=I or II), London: […] Thomas Ward […], published 1724, →OCLC
Synonyms & antonyms
nounA rule in Tycoon where a three of a particular suit (most commonly spades) can beat a single joker. During revolution, most rulesets instead use a two of that suit to do this.
More synonyms by meaning
nounan unfortunate happening that hinders or impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating
nouna decision to reverse an earlier decision
nouna judgment by a higher court that the judgment of a lower court was incorrect and should be set aside
nounturning in the opposite direction
nouna major change in attitude or principle or point of view
Synonym sets from Open English WordNet, CC BY 4.0.
Origin
reversal · noun
- Middle Englishreversall
- Middle Englishreversall
- Englishreversal
Inherited from Middle English reversall. By surface analysis, reverse + -al.
More words from Middle English
Full word history & related roots →reversal · adjective
- ['la-medreversālis
- Frenchréversal
- Medieval Latinreversālis
- Frenchréversal
- Englishreversal
Borrowed from French réversal or Medieval Latin reversālis. By surface analysis, reverse + -al.
More words from French, Medieval Latin, ['la-med
Full word history & related roots →Translations
Ancient Greek ἀναστροφή
- ἀναστροφή (anastrophḗ)an instance of reversing
Bulgarian обръщане
- обръщане (obrăštane)an instance of reversing
Chinese Cantonese 倒轉 /倒转
- 倒轉 /倒转 (dou³ zyun³)an instance of reversing
Chinese Mandarin 倒轉 /倒转
- 倒轉 /倒转 (dàozhuǎn)an instance of reversing
French renversement, inversion
- renversementan instance of reversing
- inversionan instance of reversing
Greek αναστροφή
- αναστροφή (anastrofí)an instance of reversing
Hungarian -csere, megfordítás
- -cserean instance of reversing
- megfordításan instance of reversing
- megfordulásan instance of reversing
- -fordulóan instance of reversing
Spanish inversión, retorno
- inversiónan instance of reversing
- retornoan instance of reversing
- revocaciónan instance of reversing
- reversiónan instance of reversing
- retrocesiónan instance of reversing
Rhymes & wordplay
Rhymes with reversal
All rhymes →Anagrams
Cite this entry
reversal. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 3, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reversal
“reversal.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reversal. Accessed November 3, 2026.
WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “reversal,” accessed November 3, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/reversal.
Source: reversal on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.