Library / English Dictionary

REVERT

Pronunciation (US):

(GB):

 I. (verb) 

Sense 1

Meaning:

Undergo reversion, as in a mutation

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "revert" is one way to...):

mutate (undergo mutation)

Sentence frame:

Something ----s

Sense 2

Meaning:

Go back to a previous state

Example:

We reverted to the old rules

Synonyms:

regress; retrovert; return; revert; turn back

Classified under:

Verbs of size, temperature change, intensifying, etc.

Hypernyms (to "revert" is one way to...):

change by reversal; reverse; turn (change to the contrary)

Troponyms (each of the following is one way to "revert"):

fall back; lapse; recidivate; regress; relapse; retrogress (go back to bad behavior)

resile (return to the original position or state after being stretched or compressed)

go back; recover; recuperate (regain a former condition after a financial loss)

Sentence frames:

Something ----s
Somebody ----s
Something is ----ing PP
Somebody ----s PP

Derivation:

reversion (returning to a former state)

reversive (tending to be turned back)

reverting (a failure to maintain a higher state)

Credits

 Context examples: 

Ruth misunderstood his slang, and reverted to cigarettes.

(Martin Eden, by Jack London)

When Mrs. Jennings came home, though she returned from seeing people whom she had never seen before, and of whom therefore she must have a great deal to say, her mind was so much more occupied by the important secret in her possession, than by anything else, that she reverted to it again as soon as Elinor appeared.

(Sense and Sensibility, by Jane Austen)

Their concerns had been sunk under those of Uppercross; and when Lady Russell reverted to their former hopes and fears, and spoke her satisfaction in the house in Camden Place, which had been taken, and her regret that Mrs Clay should still be with them, Anne would have been ashamed to have it known how much more she was thinking of Lyme and Louisa Musgrove, and all her acquaintance there; how much more interesting to her was the home and the friendship of the Harvilles and Captain Benwick, than her own father's house in Camden Place, or her own sister's intimacy with Mrs Clay.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

Catherine, in some amazement, complied, and after remaining a few moments silent, was on the point of reverting to what interested her at that time rather more than anything else in the world, Laurentina's skeleton, when her friend prevented her, by saying, For heaven's sake!

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Mr. Micawber promptly resumed his letter, glad to revert to a performance with which he was so highly satisfied.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

For a long while no answer could be obtained beyond a no, no—not at all—no, thank you; but he still persevered; and no sooner had he begun to revert to her own home, than her increased sobs explained to him where the grievance lay.

(Mansfield Park, by Jane Austen)

Whether former feelings were to be renewed must be brought to the proof; former times must undoubtedly be brought to the recollection of each; they could not but be reverted to; the year of their engagement could not but be named by him, in the little narratives or descriptions which conversation called forth.

(Persuasion, by Jane Austen)

It seems to me, that if you tried hard, you would in time find it possible to become what you yourself would approve; and that if from this day you began with resolution to correct your thoughts and actions, you would in a few years have laid up a new and stainless store of recollections, to which you might revert with pleasure.

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)

Thorpe's ideas then all reverted to the merits of his own equipage, and she was called on to admire the spirit and freedom with which his horse moved along, and the ease which his paces, as well as the excellence of the springs, gave the motion of the carriage.

(Northanger Abbey, by Jane Austen)

Afterwards, take a piece of smooth ivory—you have one prepared in your drawing-box: take your palette, mix your freshest, finest, clearest tints; choose your most delicate camel-hair pencils; delineate carefully the loveliest face you can imagine; paint it in your softest shades and sweetest lines, according to the description given by Mrs. Fairfax of Blanche Ingram; remember the raven ringlets, the oriental eye;—What! you revert to Mr. Rochester as a model!

(Jane Eyre, by Charlotte Brontë)