irrevocable

IPA/ɪˈrevəkəbl/
KK[ˌɪrˈɛvəkəbəl]IPA/ɪˈrevəkəbl/

irrevocable — adjective

  • irrevocablepositive
  • more irrevocablecomparative
  • most irrevocablesuperlative

1. describes a decision, action, or process that is so final it cannot be reversed

1.形容詞C1
釋義

describes a decision, action, or process that is so final it cannot be reversed or undone — once it happens, the previous situation cannot be restored.

例句

Signing the contract was an irrevocable step for Heloísa and her business partner.

irrevocable + noun (step)

The judge's ruling is irrevocable under the terms of the settlement agreement.

be + irrevocable in legal contexts

同義詞
  • irreversible

    used for physical processes that cannot be undone, while 'irrevocable' is more common for decisions and formal acts

  • unalterable

    more formal and literary, emphasising that something is fixed and cannot be adjusted

  • binding

    legal term focusing on the obligation created, not the impossibility of reversal

  • final

    less formal, simply means no further action is possible

反義詞
  • reversible

    can be undone or changed back to the original state

  • alterable

    formal term for something that can be modified

文法句型

irrevocable + noun

be/become + irrevocable

用法筆記

Frequently used in formal writing, especially legal documents and contracts. The subject of the sentence must be a decision, action, or commitment — people cannot be described as irrevocable.

常見錯誤

❌After the argument, Maria was irrevocable.
✅After the argument, Maria's decision to leave was irrevocable.
💡'irrevocable' describes decisions and commitments, not people's feelings or states.
❌The river's direction was irrevocable after the flood.
✅The river's change of course was irreversible after the flood.
💡'irreversible' is better for physical processes; 'irrevocable' suits decisions and formal acts.