contrary

Pronunciation

• (UK) IPA ^(key): /ˈkɒntrəri/ or /kənˈtrɛəri/
• (US) IPA ^(key): /ˈkɑntrɛri/

• Audio (US)

  (file)

Preposition

Preposition contrary

1. If an act or idea is contrary to something, it is against it.

   The president's actions are contrary to the constitution and therefore illegal.

2. You use "contrary to $x$, $y$" when people believe $x$, but in fact $y$ is true.

   Contrary to popular belief, Eskimos don't have huge numbers of 'snow' words.

   What she told me was contrary to everything I had ever heard.

   "On the contrary", which is from Hamlet

Adjective

Positive contrary

Comparative more contrary

Superlative most contrary

1. A contrary view, sentence, etc. is opposite to other ones.

   The contrary view is that these kind of projects are a waste of money.

   The only thoughts he had were contrary ones.

2. A contrary person tries to be different from other people or does not often agree with others.
3. The contrary is the opposite of an idea, sentence, etc.

   It is best to believe people are good, at least until the contrary is shown.

   This is not necessarily bad; on the contrary, it is sometimes quite useful.

Related words

• contrarily
• contrariness
• on the contrary
• to the contrary