Standard Lemma guide

obverse

adj · noun · 7 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

  • General-American: /ˈɑb.vɚs/
  • General-American: /ɑbˈvɝs/
  • General-American: /əbˈvɝs/
  • Southern-England: Recorded audio is listed in the source snapshot.
  • rhymes with -ɜː(ɹ)s
  • CMU ARPABET: AH0 B V ER1 S Digits mark lexical stress: 1 primary, 2 secondary, 0 unstressed.

1

adj

Meaning 1

Turned or facing toward the observer.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • The obverse side of the gravestone has the inscription.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: facing, presenting

Antonyms: none provided

2

adj

Meaning 2

Corresponding; complementary.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Examples

  • When you speak clearly, people understand you. If you don't mumble, the obverse effect is observed.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: analogous, like, parallel, reciprocal

Antonyms: none provided

3

adj

Meaning 3

Having the base, or end next to the attachment, narrower than the top.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: not-comparable

Topics: biology, botany, natural-sciences

Examples

  • an obverse leaf

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

4

noun

Meaning 4

The heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal design.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Examples

  • The medal had a cross on the obverse and had a name inscribed on the reverse.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: reverse

5

noun

Meaning 5

A proposition obtained by obversion.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Topics: human-sciences, logic, mathematics, philosophy, sciences

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

6

noun

Meaning 6

the side of a coin or medal bearing the principal stamp or design

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: reverse

Broader terms: side

Narrower terms: head

7

noun

Meaning 7

the more conspicuous of two alternatives or cases or sides

Definition source: Princeton WordNet 3.0

Examples

  • the obverse of this issue

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

Broader terms: option, alternative, choice

History

Etymology

From Latin obversus, 1650s.

Across languages

Translations

41 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Bulgarian: лицев (licev) — turned or facing toward the observer
  • Catalan: anvers — turned or facing toward the observer
  • Dutch: voorkant — turned or facing toward the observer
  • French: avers — turned or facing toward the observer
  • French: face — turned or facing toward the observer
  • Ido: averso — turned or facing toward the observer
  • Italian: dritto — turned or facing toward the observer
  • Norwegian: vendt fram — turned or facing toward the observer
  • Russian: лицевой (licevoj) — turned or facing toward the observer
  • Russian: фронтальный (frontalʹnyj) — turned or facing toward the observer
  • Russian: аверсный (aversnyj) — turned or facing toward the observer
  • Spanish: anverso — turned or facing toward the observer
  • Ukrainian: лицьовий (lycʹovyj) — turned or facing toward the observer
  • Ukrainian: аверсний (aversnyj) — turned or facing toward the observer
  • Vietnamese: phải — turned or facing toward the observer
  • Italian: opposto — corresponding; complementary
  • Portuguese: oposto — corresponding; complementary
  • Bulgarian: лице (lice) — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • Bulgarian: лицева страна (liceva strana) — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • Catalan: anvers — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • Czech: líc — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • Dutch: voorzijde — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • French: face — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • French: avers — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • German: Vorderseite — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • German: Bildseite — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • German: Kopf — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • German: Avers — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • Irish: aghaidh boinn — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • Italian: dritto — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • Italian: testa — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • Italian: lato principale — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • Italian: faccia anteriore — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • Norwegian: forside — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • Polish: awers — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • Romagnol: lètra — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • Russian: аверс (avers) — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • Spanish: anverso — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • Ukrainian: аверс (avers) — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • Vietnamese: mặt phải — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
  • Welsh: ochr flaen — the heads side of a coin, or the side of a medal or badge that has the principal
Real reading context

obverse in complete knowledge articles

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