inversion

noun
UK: /ɪnˈvɜːʃən/
US: /ɪnˈvɜːrʒən/

  1. The act of changing the normal order of words in a sentence.

    1. "Never have I seen" is an example of inversion.
    2. The poem uses inversion for dramatic effect placing emphasis differently than normal.

  2. A situation in which something is changed so that it is the opposite of what it was before, or in which someone does something in the opposite way to what they usually do.

    1. There was an inversion of roles, with the child caring for the parent.
    2. The unexpected election result represented a complete inversion of public opinion forecasts.

  3. A change in temperature in the atmosphere, in which the temperature increases with height rather than decreasing as usual.

    1. A temperature inversion trapped the smog over the city.
    2. The pollution was exacerbated by a strong temperature inversion that persisted for days.

Synonyms

reversal transpose switch

Frequently Asked Questions

The word "inversion" in English means: The act of changing the normal order of words in a sentence., A situation in which something is changed so that it is the opposite of what it was before, or in which someone does something in the opposite way to what they usually do., A change in temperature in the atmosphere, in which the temperature increases with height rather than decreasing as usual..

The phonetic transcription of "inversion" is /ɪnˈvɜːʃən/ in British English and /ɪnˈvɜːrʒən/ in American English. Click the 🔊 button to hear both pronunciations.

Synonyms for "inversion": reversal, transpose, switch.

Example usage of "inversion": ""Never have I seen" is an example of inversion.". More examples on the page.