What's the difference between
and
Enter two words to compare and contrast their definitions, origins, and synonyms to better understand how those words are related.

Opposite vs Adjacent - What's the difference?

opposite | adjacent |

As adjectives the difference between opposite and adjacent

is that opposite is located directly across from something else, or from each other while adjacent is lying next to, close, or contiguous; neighboring; bordering on.

As nouns the difference between opposite and adjacent

is that opposite is something opposite or contrary to another while adjacent is something that lies next to something else, especially the side of a right triangle that is neither the hypotenuse nor the opposite.

As prepositions the difference between opposite and adjacent

is that opposite is facing, or across from while adjacent is next to; adjacent to; beside.

As an adverb opposite

is in an opposite position.

opposite

English

Alternative forms

* (l) (archaic)

Adjective

(-)
  • Located directly across from something else, or from each other.
    • She saw him walking on the opposite side of the road.
  • Facing in the other direction.
    • They were moving in opposite directions.
  • Of either of two complementary or mutually exclusive things.
    • He has a lot of success with the opposite sex.
  • Extremely different; inconsistent; contrary; repugnant; antagonistic.
  • * Dryden
    • Novels, by which the reader is misled into another sort of pieasure opposite to that which is designed in an epic poem.
  • * John Locke
    • Particles of speech have divers, and sometimes almost opposite , significations.

    Derived terms

    * opposite sex

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something opposite or contrary to another.
  • An opponent.
  • An antonym.
    • "Up" is the opposite of "down".
  • (mathematics) An additive inverse.

    • Derived terms

    * opposites attract

    Adverb

    (-)
  • In an opposite position.
    • I was on my seat and she stood opposite .

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • Facing, or across from.
  • :
  • *
  • *:It was April 22, 1831, and a young man was walking down Whitehall in the direction of Parliament Street.. He halted opposite the Privy Gardens, and, with his face turned skywards, listened until the sound of the Tower guns smote again on the ear and dispelled his doubts.
  • In a complementary role to.
  • :

    • See also

    * apposite

    Statistics

    * 1000 English basic words ----

    adjacent

    English

    Adjective

    (-)
  • Lying next to, close, or contiguous; neighboring; bordering on.
    • Because the conference room is filled, we will have our meeting in the adjacent room.
  • Just before, after, or facing.
    • The picture is on the adjacent page .

    Synonyms

    * (lying next to) abutting, adjoining, contiguous, juxtaposed, near

    Antonyms

    * (lying next to) apart, distant, nonadjacent

    Related terms

    * adjacency * adjacently

    Noun

    (en noun)
  • Something that lies next to something else, especially the side of a right triangle that is neither the hypotenuse nor the opposite.
  • * 1980 , Faber Birren, The textile colorist
    • Again, the key colors have twice the area of the adjacents .
  • * 2011 , Mark Zegarelli, ACT Math For Dummies (page 194)
    • Picking out the opposite, the adjacent , and the hypotenuse

    Preposition

    (English prepositions)
  • (US) Next to; adjacent to; beside.
    • ----