[Elamur Dictionary](https://md.dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/) · [this page in HTML](https://dictionary.elamur.ai/free/en/english/revert/)

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# revert

verb (revert, reverts, reverted, reverting); noun (a revert — rare)

«revert» in the English dictionary: everyday — its meanings, how the lessons use it, and examples, each with its tree on Mova.

## Everyday

1. To go back to an earlier state, habit or way of doing things. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/revert/#m1)
2. (computing) To undo changes and go back to an earlier version of a file or page. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/revert/#m2)
3. (law) For property to go back to its first owner. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/revert/#m3)
4. (business English) "Revert to you" is sometimes used to mean "reply to you" — this is common in India, but many speakers think it is wrong. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/revert/#m4)

### In the lessons

In everyday life, people revert to old habits. In computing and online, editors revert changes to a Wikipedia page or a document. In science, something may revert to its natural state, like a garden reverting to wild. Phrases: revert to, revert back (common but repeats itself), revert changes.

### Examples

- After the holiday, I reverted to going to bed late. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/revert/#x1)
- The field reverted to wild meadow. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/revert/#x2)
- The teacher reverted the document to yesterday's version. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/revert/#x3)
- Wikipedia editors reverted the silly changes. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/revert/#x4)
- When he is nervous, he reverts to biting his nails. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/revert/#x5)
- The land reverted to the original owner. [tree →](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/revert/#x6)

### Note

"Revert to" is the pattern. "Revert back" says "back" twice, so careful writers avoid it. Past form: reverted. Noun: reversion. In much English, "revert" does not mean "reply".

## On Mova

- [Trees and pragmatics of «revert» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/corpora/dictionaries/school/R/revert/): every meaning and example parsed by Mova, with its dependency tree and frames.
- [«revert» in the school dictionary](https://mova.elamur.ai/free/en/dictionaries/school/w/revert.html) on Mova free.