Definition of invertnext
as in to flip
to change the position of (an object) so that the opposite side or end is showing if you invert the coin, there's a picture of a buffalo on the back

Synonyms & Similar Words

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How does the verb invert contrast with its synonyms?

The words reverse and transpose are common synonyms of invert. While all three words mean "to change to the opposite position," invert applies chiefly to turning upside down or inside out.

the number 9 looks like an inverted 6

Where would reverse be a reasonable alternative to invert?

The words reverse and invert can be used in similar contexts, but reverse is the most general term and may imply change in order, side, direction, meaning.

reversed his position on the trade agreement

When is transpose a more appropriate choice than invert?

While in some cases nearly identical to invert, transpose implies a change in order or relative position of units often through exchange of position.

transposed the letters to form an anagram

Example Sentences

Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Recent Examples of invert Chelsea could manipulate their press, either by finding Fernandez lurking on the left wing and Malo Gusto inverting into midfield on the right, or through Sanchez going long. Beren Cross, New York Times, 26 Apr. 2026 Allow the tart to stand for 2 minutes, then carefully invert onto a serving plate. Shafiq Najib, ABC News, 24 Apr. 2026 Murray screened for Jokic, inverting the pick-and-roll — a trick that very few tandems have the skill-set to pull off. Bennett Durando, Denver Post, 23 Apr. 2026 Fill it with water, invert it into the soil, and let gravity do the rest. Jessica Safavimehr, Southern Living, 22 Apr. 2026 See All Example Sentences for invert
Recent Examples of Synonyms for invert
Verb
  • But public opinion has flipped since 2023, when Israel, in retaliation for Hamas’s October 7th attack, launched a military campaign in Gaza.
    Jason Zengerle, New Yorker, 18 May 2026
  • The actress-turned-media-company owner has long had the grit required to ideate, found, and ultimately sell a near-billion-dollar company that flipped Hollywood’s script on its head.
    Sydney Lake, Fortune, 17 May 2026
Verb
  • But that decline was reversed, thanks to a 1972 DDT ban and the bald eagles’ listing as an endangered species in 1978.
    Sarah Raza, Chicago Tribune, 15 May 2026
  • Harbaugh plans to run a grueling training camp to try to better prepare the Giants for their early season games, but reversing a decade-plus of bad organizational habits and starts might take time.
    Pat Leonard, New York Daily News, 15 May 2026

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Cite this Entry

“Invert.” Merriam-Webster.com Thesaurus, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/thesaurus/invert. Accessed 20 May. 2026.

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