revert

[ri-vurt]

verb (used without object)

1. to return to a former habit, practice, belief, condition, etc..

   It wasn't so much that things had never changed, it was that people had reverted instead of moving forward.

   Synonyms: retrogress

2. Law.,  (of assets) to go back to or return to the former owner or to their heirs.

   After a certain number of years, ownership of the bridge reverts to the public.

3. Biology.,  to return to an earlier or primitive type.

   Synonyms: retrogress

verb (used with object)

1. to undo or roll back.

   The new version is a mess, but we should be able to revert the edits.

noun

1. an act or instance of returning to a former habit, practice, belief, condition, etc.; reversion.

   Now we are seeing a revert to a simpler writing style that grabs our attention instantly.

2. a person or thing that goes back to a previous state or condition, especially a previous religion (often used attributively).

   We offer a course for revert Muslims.

   She was a revert who left the church and came back a decade later.

3. Law.,  a reversion.

verb phrase

1. revert to

   1. to return or go back to a previous state or condition.

      After that, I stopped riding the bus and reverted to my old car-driving ways.

   2. to go back in thought or discussion.

      He constantly reverted to stories from his childhood.

revert

verb

1. to go back to a former practice, condition, belief, etc

   she reverted to her old wicked ways

2. to take up again or come back to a former topic

3. biology (of individuals, organs, etc) to return to a more primitive, earlier, or simpler condition or type

4. to reply to someone

   we will revert to you with pricing and other details

5. property law (of an estate or interest in land) to return to its former owner or his heirs when a grant, esp a grant for the lifetime of the grantee, comes to an end

6. to resume characteristics that were thought to have disappeared

noun

1. a person who, having been converted, has returned to his former beliefs or Church

Usage

Since back is part of the meaning of revert , one should not say that someone reverts back to a certain type of behaviour

Other Word Forms

• reverter noun
• revertible adjective
• revertibility noun
• revertive adjective
• revertively adverb
• nonrevertible adjective
• nonrevertive adjective
• unreverted adjective
• unrevertible adjective
• unreverting adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of revert¹

First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English reverten, from Old French revertir, Anglo-French reverter, from Latin revertere “to turn back,” from re- re- + vertere “to turn” ( verse )

Word History and Origins

Origin of revert¹

C13: from Latin revertere to return, from _re- + vertere to turn

Example Sentences

Where the bottom falls out is the last-minute decision for Rain to pull a Jonesy, just like Ripley, and go back for Andy after he’s incapacitated and reverted to his childlike personality.

From Salon

They create new expectations for speed and efficiency in law enforcement, making it politically costly to revert to slower, more manual processes.

From Salon

There's a strong chance I'll be wrong again, wouldn't be the first time, but I'm going to revert back to last season's technique and say City will pinch this.

From BBC

Some shelters said the change had been effective, but ministers have decided to revert to the shorter period from September, a decision charities say they are "appalled" by.

From BBC

Jack Grealish shone for Everton in their impressive win over Brighton, and on the face of things it would be easy to make the assumption that he has reverted back to his Aston Villa ways.

From BBC

Related Words

• degenerate 
• go back 
• hark back 
• react 
• regress 
• turn back