What does irreversible mean?
Word: Irreversible
Part of Speech: Adjective
Meaning: Irreversible means impossible to undo or to change back to how it was before.
How do you spell irreversible?
Syllables: ir - re - vers - i - ble
Tricky part: So many words end in able that pupils reach for it here, or slip an extra e into the word. This one ends in ible.
Watch out for: irreversable, irreverseble, irreverseable
Memory tip: Picture a one-way road with no going back, and a sign that reads: only i may come before ble.
Irreversible in a sentence
Example 1: Some changes to a coastline are irreversible.
Example 2: Spilling ink on the old map did irreversible harm to it.
Example 3: Once the letter is posted, your decision is irreversible.
Fun Fact
Science books use the word for changes that cannot be undone: a melted ice cube can be frozen again, but a burnt sheet of paper can never be turned back into paper.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Cookie
Find the extra letter in the word:
irreverssible
a) s
b) b
c) v
d) r
Show answer
a) s. One s comes before the ending; there is no pair.
Word Makeup
Only one of these words takes the prefix ir to make a real word. Choose it.
ir
a) polite
b) logical
c) reversible
d) visible
Show answer
c) reversible. Visible, polite and logical go with in, im and il.
Word Connection
Choose the synonym of the word irreversible as used in the sentence:
Cutting down the old forest did irreversible damage to the hillside.
a) slight
b) permanent
c) sudden
d) temporary
Show answer
b) permanent. Damage that cannot be undone stays for good.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
Once cement has set, the change is sierbreeilrv.
a) irreversible
b) irresistible
c) irresponsible
d) irregular
Show answer
a) irreversible. Spot the v among the letters: it belongs to just one of these.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. Which of these changes is irreversible?
a) folding a sheet of paper
b) charging a phone battery
c) melting a block of butter
d) baking batter into a cake
Show answer
d) baking batter into a cake
2. The umpire says the decision is irreversible. What can the captain do now?
a) accept it and carry on playing
b) have it thrown out at tea time
c) wait for it to be undone tomorrow
d) ask for it to be changed next ball
Show answer
a) accept it and carry on playing
