Reverse vs. Undo: Know the Difference
By Shumaila Saeed || Updated on December 29, 2023
Reverse means to go in the opposite direction or turn something around, while undo refers to canceling or nullifying a previous action or decision.
Key Differences
Reverse involves changing direction or position to the opposite, as in a car reversing. Undo, however, means to cancel or negate a previous action, like undoing a knot.
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Dec 29, 2023
In a metaphorical sense, reverse can mean to alter a situation to its opposite state. Undo typically refers to the act of removing the effects of a previous action, such as undoing changes in a document.
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Dec 29, 2023
Reverse can also mean to invert or flip something, changing its orientation. Undo is often used in computing to refer to reverting a software action or command.
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Dec 29, 2023
To reverse a decision means to change it to the contrary position. Undoing a decision, however, implies removing its effects as if it never happened.
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Dec 29, 2023
In mechanical contexts, reverse implies moving in the opposite direction, like a gear in a car. Undo in such contexts would mean dismantling or disassembling a previous action.
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Dec 29, 2023
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Comparison Chart
Definition
Change to opposite direction or state.
Cancel or nullify a previous action.
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Dec 29, 2023
Usage
Physical and metaphorical contexts.
Often in abstract or digital contexts.
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Example
Reversing a car, reversing a trend.
Undoing a knot, undoing a command in software.
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Dec 29, 2023
Contextual Scope
Broad, includes physical orientation.
Primarily focused on actions and decisions.
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Dec 29, 2023
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Reverse and Undo Definitions
Reverse
To change something to its opposite.
The court's decision was reversed on appeal.
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Dec 29, 2023
Undo
To cancel or nullify a previous action.
He clicked 'undo' to erase the last edit in the document.
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Dec 29, 2023
Reverse
To turn something around or upside down.
She reversed the painting to show the back.
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Dec 29, 2023
Undo
In computing, to revert a command or action.
He used the undo function to correct the mistake.
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Dec 29, 2023
Reverse
Turned backward in position, direction, or order
The reverse side of the poster.
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Oct 19, 2023
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Undo
To reverse or erase; annul
Impossible to undo the suffering caused by the war.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
Moving, acting, or organized in a manner contrary to the usual
In reverse order.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
(Printing) Printed in such a way that the normally colored part appears white against a colored or black background.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
The opposite or contrary
All along we thought Sue was older than Bill, but just the reverse was true.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
The side of a coin or medal that does not carry the principal design; the verso.
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Oct 19, 2023
Undo
To reverse the effects of an action.
Fortunately, we can undo most of the damage to the system by the war.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
A change in fortune from better to worse; a setback
Suffered financial reverses.
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Oct 19, 2023
Undo
(figuratively) To impoverish or ruin, as in reputation; to cause the downfall of.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
A mechanism, such as a gear in a motor vehicle, that is used to reverse movement.
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Oct 19, 2023
Undo
(computing) An operation that reverses a previous action.
How many undos does this program support?
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Oct 19, 2023
Undo
To reverse, as what has been done; to annul; to bring to naught.
What's done can not be undone.
To-morrow, ere the setting sun,She 'd all undo that she had done.
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Oct 19, 2023
Undo
To loose; to open; to take to piece; to unfasten; to untie; hence, to unravel; to solve; as, to undo a knot; to undo a puzzling question; to undo a riddle.
Pray you, undo this button.
She took the spindle, and undoing the thread gradually, measured it.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
(Football) An offensive play in which a ball carrier running in one direction executes a handoff to a player running in the opposite direction.
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Oct 19, 2023
Undo
To bring to poverty; to impoverish; to ruin, as in reputation, morals, hopes, or the like; as, many are undone by unavoidable losses, but more undo themselves by vices and dissipation, or by indolence.
That quaffing and drinking will undo you,
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
To turn around to the opposite direction
The wind reversed the weather vane.
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Oct 19, 2023
Undo
Cancel, annul, or reverse an action or its effect;
I wish I could undo my actions
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
To exchange the positions of; transpose
Reversed the people on stage.
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Oct 19, 2023
Undo
Cause the ruin or downfall of;
A single mistake undid the President and he had to resign
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Oct 19, 2023
Undo
Cause to become loose;
Undo the shoelace
Untie the knot
Loosen the necktie
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
To cause to adopt a contrary viewpoint
Reversed himself during the campaign.
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Oct 19, 2023
Undo
Remove the outer cover or wrapping of;
Let's unwrap the gifts!
Undo the parcel
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Oct 19, 2023
Undo
To untie, open, or loosen something.
She undid the ribbon to open the gift.
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Dec 29, 2023
Undo
To remove the consequences of a decision.
It was impossible to undo the damage caused by the leak.
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Dec 29, 2023
Reverse
To direct that (a charge) apply to the person receiving instead of making a telephone call.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
Opposite, contrary; going in the opposite direction.
We ate the meal in reverse order, starting with dessert and ending with the starter.
The mirror showed us a reverse view of the scene.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
Pertaining to engines, vehicle movement etc. moving in a direction opposite to the usual direction.
He selected reverse gear.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
To be in the non-default position; to be set for the lesser-used route.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
(genetics) In which cDNA synthetization is obtained from an RNA template.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
The opposite of something.
We believed the Chinese weren't ready for us. In fact, the reverse was true.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
The tails side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that is opposite the obverse.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
The side of something facing away from a viewer, or from what is considered the front; the other side.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
A thrust in fencing made with a backward turn of the hand; a backhanded stroke.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
(surgery) A turn or fold made in bandaging, by which the direction of the bandage is changed.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
(transitive) To turn something around so that it faces the opposite direction or runs in the opposite sequence.
To reverse the order of books on a shelf
To reverse a portion of video footage
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
(transitive) To change totally; to alter to the opposite.
All trends reverse eventually.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
(legal) To revoke a law, or to change a decision into its opposite.
To reverse a judgment, sentence, or decree
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
To cause a mechanism to operate or move in the opposite direction to normal; to drive a vehicle in the direction the driver has the back.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
(chemistry) To change the direction of a reaction such that the products become the reactants and vice-versa.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
Turned backward; having a contrary or opposite direction; hence; opposite or contrary in kind; as, the reverse order or method.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
Turned upside down; greatly disturbed.
He found the sea diverseWith many a windy storm reverse.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
That which appears or is presented when anything, as a lance, a line, a course of conduct, etc., is reverted or turned contrary to its natural direction.
He did so with the reverse of the lance.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
That which is directly opposite or contrary to something else; a contrary; an opposite.
And then mistook reverse of wrong for right.
To make everything the reverse of what they have seen, is quite as easy as to destroy.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
The act of reversing; complete change; reversal; hence, total change in circumstances or character; especially, a change from better to worse; misfortune; a check or defeat; as, the enemy met with a reverse.
The strange reverse of fate you see;I pitied you, now you may pity me.
By a reverse of fortune, Stephen becomes rich.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
The back side; as, the reverse of a drum or trench; the reverse of a medal or coin, that is, the side opposite to the obverse. See Obverse.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
A thrust in fencing made with a backward turn of the hand; a backhanded stroke.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
A turn or fold made in bandaging, by which the direction of the bandage is changed.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
To turn back; to cause to face in a contrary direction; to cause to depart.
And that old dame said many an idle verse,Out of her daughter's heart fond fancies to reverse.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
To cause to return; to recall.
And to his fresh remembrance did reverseThe ugly view of his deformed crimes.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
To change totally; to alter to the opposite.
Reverse the doom of death.
She reversed the conduct of the celebrated vicar of Bray.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
To turn upside down; to invert.
A pyramid reversed may stand upon his point if balanced by admirable skill.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
Hence, to overthrow; to subvert.
These can divide, and these reverse, the state.
Custom . . . reverses even the distinctions of good and evil.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
To overthrow by a contrary decision; to make void; to under or annual for error; as, to reverse a judgment, sentence, or decree.
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
A relation of direct opposition;
We thought Sue was older than Bill but just the reverse was true
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
An unfortunate happening that hinders of impedes; something that is thwarting or frustrating
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
The side of a coin or medal that does not bear the principal design
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
(American football) a running play in which a back running in one direction hands the ball to a back running in the opposite direction
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
Change to the contrary;
The trend was reversed
The tides turned against him
Public opinion turned when it was revealed that the president had an affair with a White House intern
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
Rule against;
The Republicans were overruled when the House voted on the bill
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
Annul by recalling or rescinding;
He revoked the ban on smoking
Lift an embargo
Vacate a death sentence
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
Directed or moving toward the rear;
A rearward glance
A rearward movement
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
Of the transmission gear causing backward movement in a motor vehicle;
In reverse gear
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Oct 19, 2023
Reverse
To go backwards or in the opposite direction.
He put the car in reverse to exit the driveway.
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Dec 29, 2023
Reverse
To invert the order or position of something.
The software reversed the sequence of numbers.
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Dec 29, 2023
Reverse
To revoke or annul a decision or process.
The policy change was reversed after public outcry.
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Dec 29, 2023
Repeatedly Asked Queries
Is undo a common feature in software?
Yes, it's a standard feature in most software.
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Dec 29, 2023
Can reverse be used in a technical context?
Yes, like reversing an engine or a process.
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Dec 29, 2023
Does reverse always mean going backward?
Often, but it can also mean inverting or changing a state.
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Dec 29, 2023
Can reverse imply a complete change?
Yes, like reversing a policy or attitude.
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Dec 29, 2023
Can you reverse a trend?
Yes, in the sense of changing its direction or prevalence.
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Dec 29, 2023
Is reversing a decision common in legal contexts?
Yes, it's a common term in legal and administrative fields.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Does undo mean the same as delete?
No, undo is about reversing an action, not necessarily deleting.
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Dec 29, 2023
Does undo have a specific symbol in computing?
Often represented by an arrow curving to the left.
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Dec 29, 2023
Is undo used in everyday language?
More common in technical or formal contexts.
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Dec 29, 2023
Does reversing a car require specific skills?
Yes, it involves understanding of spatial awareness and control.
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Dec 29, 2023
Is undo a modern term?
It's been around but gained prominence with computing.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Can undo apply to emotional effects?
Metaphorically, yes, but it's more challenging in practice.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Does undo have historical origins?
Its use has evolved, particularly with technological advancements.
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Dec 29, 2023
Is reversing a decision always possible?
Not always, depending on the context and consequences.
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Dec 29, 2023
Are there limits to what can be reversed?
Yes, some processes or decisions are irreversible.
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Dec 29, 2023
Can undo be used in legal documents?
Not typically; it's more common in digital or informal contexts.
Shumaila Saeed
Dec 29, 2023
Is reverse used in sports terminology?
Yes, like a reverse play in football.
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Dec 29, 2023
Can reverse apply to biological processes?
Yes, like reversing the aging process in scientific research.
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Dec 29, 2023
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About Author
Written by
Shumaila SaeedShumaila Saeed, an expert content creator with 6 years of experience, specializes in distilling complex topics into easily digestible comparisons, shining a light on the nuances that both inform and educate readers with clarity and accuracy.
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