Definitions for oppositeˈɒp ə zɪt, -sɪt

Random House Webster's College Dictionary

op•po•siteˈɒp ə zɪt, -sɪt(adj.)

situated or lying face to face with something else or each other, or placed in corresponding positions across an intervening line, space, etc.:
at opposite ends of a room.
contrary or radically different, as in nature, qualities, or significance; opposed:
opposite sides in a controversy.
being the other of two related or corresponding things:
the opposite sex.
Category: Common Vocabulary
Bot. situated on diametrically opposed sides of a stem, as leaves occurring in pairs at a node.
Category: Botany
adverse or inimical.
(n.)a person or thing that is opposite or contrary.
Ref: antonym
(prep.)across from; facing:
to sit opposite the fireplace.
in a role parallel or complementary to.
(adv.)on or to the opposite side:
I was at one end and she sat opposite.

Origin of opposite:

1350–1400; < MF < L oppositus, ptp. of oppōnere to set against

op′po•site•ness(n.)

Princeton's WordNet

antonym, opposite word, opposite(noun)
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'"
reverse, contrary, opposite(noun)
a relation of direct opposition
"we thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true"
opposition, opponent, opposite(noun)
a contestant that you are matched against
inverse, opposite(adj)
something inverted in sequence or character or effect
"when the direct approach failed he tried the inverse"
opposite(adj)
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"
opposite, paired(adj)
of leaves etc; growing in pairs on either side of a stem
"opposite leaves"
opposite(adj)
moving or facing away from each other
"looking in opposite directions"; "they went in opposite directions"
opposite(adj)
the other one of a complementary pair
"the opposite sex"; "the two chess kings are set up on squares of opposite colors"
opposite(adj)
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 Reade
diametric, diametrical, opposite, polar(adverb)
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"
face-to-face, opposite(adverb)
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"

Kernerman English Learner's Dictionary

opposite(adjective)ˈɒp ə zɪt, -sɪt
facing and on the other side from sb or sth
You'll see a park, and our house is on the opposite side of the road.
oppositeˈɒp ə zɪt, -sɪt
different in every way
opposite opinions/views
opposite(preposition)ˈɒp ə zɪt, -sɪt
facing sb or sth
The school is opposite the library.
opposite(noun)ˈɒp ə zɪt, -sɪt
sb or sth that is different in every way from sb or sth else
She's the complete opposite of her sister.; What's the opposite of the word "freezing?"

Wiktionary

opposite(Noun)
something opposite or contrary to another
opposite(Noun)
an opponent
opposite(Noun)
an antonym
"Up" is the opposite of "down".
opposite(Noun)
an additive inverse
opposite(Adverb)
In an opposite position.
I was on my seat and she stood opposite.
opposite(Adjective)
located directly across from something else, or from each other
She saw him walking on the opposite side of the road.
opposite(Adjective)
facing in the other direction
They were moving in opposite directions.
opposite(Adjective)
of either of two complementary or mutually exclusive things
He has a lot of success with the opposite sex.
opposite(Preposition)
facing, or across from
He lives opposite the pub.
opposite(Preposition)
in a complementary role to
He played opposite Marilyn Monroe.