WordGarden.ioirrevocably
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ɪrɪvˈɒkəbli/
US
- /ˌɪˈrɛvəkəbli/
Meanings
Adverb
in a way that cannot be changed, reversed, or undone
so that a legal act, right, or agreement cannot be revoked
Beyond the definition
Imagine building a sandcastle on the beach. The tide will come in, and once it washes over your work, it's gone for good. That's the idea behind "irrevocably": something happens in a way that cannot be undone, changed back, or taken back. It is often used for decisions, actions, or damage that have lasting results. You might irrevocably harm a friendship with cruel words, or a single event might irrevocably change someone's future. It carries the feeling of crossing a point of no return.
The word "irrevocably" describes something that happens in a way that cannot be changed, undone, or reversed. It comes from the Latin "irrevocabilis," meaning "not to be called back." This is not just about something being hard to fix; it is about there being no real way back.
You might hear it in legal or formal writing: someone may transfer rights irrevocably, or make an irrevocable decision that cannot later be withdrawn. You also see it in personal stories: "She burned her bridges with him, irrevocably damaging their friendship." In both cases, the word points to a result that is final, not something that can easily be repaired with time or regret.
It is not a word people usually use lightly. It suggests a serious and lasting consequence. A choice that changes life irrevocably will shape what comes next in a permanent way. A medical event may irrevocably affect the body. A public decision may irrevocably alter a town, a law, or a relationship between countries.
Sometimes it is also used to stress deep commitment: "He tied his future irrevocably to the project." The word carries weight. It marks the moment when turning back is no longer possible. So when something happens irrevocably, the story has changed for good.
Examples
- 1
Life change
The accident irrevocably changed the way she saw the world.
- 2
Relationship damage
Their friendship was irrevocably damaged after he betrayed her trust.
- 3
Legal commitment
Once the agreement was signed, both sides were irrevocably committed to the deal.
- 4
Community change
The town’s old way of life had been irrevocably altered by the new factory.
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Public reputation
By then, his name was irrevocably linked with the scandal.
See also
Similar
- irreversibly
- permanently
- for good
Shades of meaning
- unalterably
- irretrievably
- definitively
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- irrevocably changed
- irrevocably committed
- irrevocably lost
Word family
Explore
- finality
- point of no return
Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- irrevocablyadverb