against

[ uh-genst, uh-geynst ]

/ əˈgɛnst, əˈgeɪnst /

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See 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.

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Idioms about against

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

Origin of against

1125–75; Middle English agens, ageynes, equivalent to ageynagain + -es-s¹; for -tcf. whilst, amongst

Words nearby against

Agabus, 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

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2021

How to use against in a sentence

To those who agreed with him, Bush pledged that the law against same-sex marriage would remain intact.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
To his critics, he explained—sometimes at painful length—his reasoning against it.
Jeb Bush’s Unseen Anti-Gay Marriage Emails|Jackie Kucinich|January 9, 2015|DAILY BEAST
This is a blow against freedom of speech, we were told, by the likes of Homeland Security chief Jeh Johnson.
Politicians Only Love Journalists When They're Dead|Luke O’Neil|January 8, 2015|DAILY BEAST
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
Do not the widow's tears run down the cheek, and her cry against him that causeth them to fall?
The Bible, Douay-Rheims Version|Various
Vain also was the valour and ability he showed in the campaign against the Royalists in La Vende.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
Beginners must be warned against mistaking the edges of cells, or particles which have retained the red stain, for bacilli.
A Manual of Clinical Diagnosis|James Campbell Todd
Whether they had ever, at different times, pleaded for or against the same cause, and cited precedents to prove contrary opinions?
Gulliver's Travels|Jonathan Swift
He leant against the wall of his refuge, notwithstanding this boast, and licked the ice to moisten his parched lips.
The Giant of the North|R.M. Ballantyne

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

Other 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

against

Idioms about against

Origin of against

Words nearby against

Words related to against

How to use against in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for against

Word Origin for against

Other Idioms and Phrases with against