revert

verb
re·​vert | \ ri-ˈvərt How to pronounce revert (audio) \
reverted; reverting; reverts

Definition of revert

intransitive verb

1 : to come or go back (as to a former condition, period, or subject)
2 : to return to the proprietor or his or her heirs at the end of a reversion
3 : to return to an ancestral type

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Other Words from revert

reverter noun
revertible \ ri-​ˈvər-​tə-​bəl How to pronounce revertible (audio) \ adjective

Synonyms & Antonyms for revert

Synonyms

regress, retrogress, return

Antonyms

advance, develop, evolve, progress

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Examples of revert in a Sentence

after the national emergency had passed, the political parties abandoned their shotgun unity and reverted to their partisan squabbling

Recent Examples on the Web

The state didn’t accept Broward County’s machine-recount totals because they were submitted two minutes late, and instead reverted to the county’s previous unofficial tally. Andrew Duehren, WSJ, "Florida’s Tight Senate Race Heads to Manual Recount," 16 Nov. 2018 Yet, we are left with a situation where Trump’s deal-making skills may at best produce an iffy North Korea deal and at worst will revert to Boltonesque plans for regime change. Trudy Rubin, Philly.com, "Will Trump's deal-making backfire and embroil U.S. in new wars? | Trudy Rubin," 23 May 2018 Shahab Jalinoos, Credit Suisse’s global head of FX strategy, says financial markets have scaled back interest in foreign trade and have reverted to complacency. Bloomberg.com, "A More Populist Trade Policy Would Shock Markets, Jalinoos Says," 26 May 2017 The mitigation lands are now reverting back to habitat for San Joaquin kit foxes, blunt-nosed leopard lizards, burrowing owls and other at-risk species. Los Angeles Times, "California farmers are planting solar panels as water supplies dry up," 31 July 2019 An extension called GoodTwitter, contributed by Zusor, can effectively revert your Twitter interface back to a more old-fashioned look. Barbara Krasnoff, The Verge, "How to get the old Twitter web interface back," 26 July 2019 In an interview with The Verge, Chen said the game had to be designed to combat players' worst natures: In childhood psychology, any gamer that goes to a virtual world immediately reverts to baby mode. Samuel Axon, Ars Technica, "Journey creator’s Sky debuts on iPhone and iPad," 19 July 2019 Sometimes, though, the passion can revert to a nonchalant display that costs him on the field. Chris Bumbaca, USA TODAY, "Celebrating National Hot Dog Day by examining the biggest hot-doggers in sports," 17 July 2019 The system then reverts back to softening the incoming water. Joseph Truini, Popular Mechanics, "How a Water Softener Works (And Why You Might Want One)," 4 July 2019

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'revert.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

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First Known Use of revert

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

History and Etymology for revert

Middle English, from Anglo-French revertir, from Latin revertere, transitive verb, "to turn back" & reverti, intransitive verb, "to return, come back," from re- + vertere, verti "to turn" — more at worth

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More Definitions for revert

revert

verb
re·​vert | \ ri-ˈvərt How to pronounce revert (audio) \
reverted; reverting

Kids Definition of revert

: to come or go back He reverted to bad habits.
re·​vert | \ ri-ˈvərt How to pronounce revert (audio) \

Medical Definition of revert

: to undergo reversion

Other Words from revert

revertible \ -​ˈvərt-​ə-​bəl How to pronounce revertible (audio) \ adjective
re·​vert | \ ri-ˈvərt How to pronounce revert (audio) \

Legal Definition of revert

1 : to come or go back (as to a former status or state) if the donee of a general power fails to exercise it…the appointive assets revert to the donor's estate— W. M. McGovern, Jr. et al.
2 : to return to the grantor or his or her heirs as a reversion

Other Words from revert

revertible \ -​ˈvər-​tə-​bəl How to pronounce revertible (audio) \ adjective

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