against

[ uh-genst, uh-geynst ]

/ əˈgɛnst, əˈgeɪnst /

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR against ON THESAURUS.COM

preposition

in opposition to; contrary to; adverse or hostile to: twenty votes against ten; against reason.

in resistance to or defense from: protection against burglars.

in an opposite direction to: to ride against the wind.

into contact or collision with; toward; upon: The rain beat against the window.

in contact with: to lean against the wall.

in preparation for; in provision for: money saved against a rainy day.

having as background: a design of flowers against a dark wall.

in exchange for; as a balance to or debit or charge on: He asked for an advance against his salary.

in competition with: a racehorse running against his own record time.

in comparison or contrast with: a matter of reason as against emotion.

beside; near; before: The car is against the building.

conjunction

Archaic. before; by the time that.

Nearby words

agade, agadir, agag, again, again and again, against, against all odds, against one's better judgment, against one's will, against the clock, against the grain

Idioms

over against, in contrast with: the rich over against the poor.

Origin of against

1125–75; Middle English agens, ageynes, equivalent to ageyn again + -es -s¹; for -t cf. whilst, amongst

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for against

Spouting off against police online has become criminalized in recent weeks.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead|Luke O’Neil|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The reason we were liberals is we were against oppression.
Bill Maher: Hundreds of Millions of Muslims Support Attack on ‘Charlie Hebdo’|Lloyd Grove|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Congress is nearing a vote on the Keystone XL pipeline, and lawmakers made their cases for—and against—it Sunday.
Fact-Checking the Sunday Shows: Jan. 4|PunditFact.com|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
The two major complaints minority communities have against the police seem at first glance paradoxical.
Ground Zero of the NYPD Slowdown|Batya Ungar-Sargon|January 1, 2015|DAILY BEAST

And, of course, it was against the mixing of the races that the music inevitably provoked.
How Martin Luther King Jr. Influenced Sam Cooke’s ‘A Change Is Gonna Come’|Peter Guralnick|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
One by the gate, one against the wall at the other end, and two at each of the long sides of the inclosure.
Rujub, the Juggler|G. A. Henty
In this case, the probabilities were all on one side, and that side was against him.
Chums of the Camp Fire|Lawrence J. Leslie
Against the breeze of such high indignation, any argument would be blown away.
The Trumpeter Swan|Temple Bailey
Mr. Force got up, took an overcoat from a hook on the wall and hung it against the door.
Her Mother's Secret|Emma D. E. N. Southworth
Against the wall was a large wardrobe closet; stage costumes were hanging in it.
Astounding Stories of Super-Science January 1930|Victor Rousseau

British Dictionary definitions for against

against

/ (əˈɡɛnst, əˈɡeɪnst) /

preposition

opposed to; in conflict or disagreement withthey fought against the legislation

standing or leaning beside or in front ofa ladder against the wall

coming in contact withthe branches of a tree brushed against the bus

in contrast tosilhouettes are outlines against a light background

having an adverse or unfavourable effect onthe economic system works against small independent companies

as a protection from or means of defence from the adverse effects ofa safeguard against contaminated water

in exchange for or in return for

rare in preparation forhe gave them warm clothing against their journey through the night

as against as opposed to or as compared withhe had two shots at him this time as against only one last time

Word Origin for against

C12: ageines, from again, ageyn, etc, again + -es genitive ending; the spelling with -t (C16) was probably due to confusion with superlatives ending in -st

Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

Idioms and Phrases with against

against

In addition to the idioms beginning with against

against all odds
against one's better judgment
against one's will
against the clock
against the grain
against the tide

also see:

beat one's head against the wall
cards are stacked against
come up against
count against
dead set against
guard against
have something against
hold something against
lift a hand against
over against
pit someone against
run against
set against
swim against
turn against
two strikes against
up against