oppose

[ uh-pohz ]

/ əˈpoʊz /

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See synonyms for: oppose / opposed / opposing / opposer on Thesaurus.com

verb (used with object), op·posed, op·pos·ing.

to act against or provide resistance to; combat: to vigorously oppose tyranny in every form.

to stand in the way of; hinder; obstruct.

to set as an opponent or adversary.

to be hostile or adverse to, as in opinion: to oppose a resolution in a debate.

to set as an obstacle or hindrance.

to set against in some relation, especially as to demonstrate a comparison or contrast: to oppose advantages to disadvantages.

to use or take as being opposite or contrary.

to set (something) over against something else in place, or to set (two things) so as to face or be opposite to one another.

verb (used without object), op·posed, op·pos·ing.

to be or act in opposition.

OTHER WORDS FOR oppose

1 confront, contravene.

2 prevent.

See synonyms for oppose on Thesaurus.com

OPPOSITES FOR oppose

1 capitulate, succumb.

See antonyms for oppose on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

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Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

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Origin of oppose

First recorded in 1350–1400; Middle English, from Old French opposer, blend of Latin oppōnere “to set against” and Old French poser “to pose, place,” associated with the Latin past participle oppositus; see pose¹

synonym study for oppose

1. Oppose, resist, withstand imply setting up a force against something. The difference between oppose and resist is somewhat similar to the one between offensive and defensive action. To oppose is mainly to fight against, in order to thwart, certain tendencies or procedures of which one does not approve: The lobbyists opposed the passage of the bill. Resist suggests that the subject is already threatened by the forces, or by the imminent possibility, against which they struggle: Our religion requires us to resist temptation. Whereas oppose always suggests an attitude of great disapproval, resist may imply an inner struggle in which the will is divided: She tried unsuccessfully to resist her craving for ice cream. Withstand generally implies successful resistance; it may refer to endurance that allows one to emerge unharmed ( to withstand a shock ), as well as to active resistance: The fort should be able to withstand an aerial attack.

OTHER WORDS FROM oppose

op·pos·er, nounpre·op·pose, verb (used with object), pre·op·posed, pre·op·pos·ing.re·op·pose, verb (used with object), re·op·posed, re·op·pos·ing.

Words nearby oppose

opportunity, opportunity cost, opportunity shop, opposable, opposable thumb, oppose, opposed, opposed-cylinder, opposed-piston engine, opposeless, opposing

How to use oppose in a sentence

Much like they did with Roy Hibbert before, the Pacers’ guards funnel opposing ball-handlers into the lane, allowing them to challenge Turner at the rim.
Myles Turner’s Game Has Evolved. The Box Score Doesn’t Know It Yet.|Chris Herring (chris.herring@fivethirtyeight.com)|February 10, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
By contrast, support for recalling Davis was more or less reversed, as surveys found around 50 percent backed the recall while around 40 percent opposed it.
California’s Gavin Newsom Will Likely Face A Recall Election — But He’ll Probably Survive It|Geoffrey Skelley (geoffrey.skelley@abc.com)|February 10, 2021|FiveThirtyEight
Kuntzler said he strongly opposes changing the club’s name, saying a new name would take away the club’s identity as an important LGBTQ Democratic Party organization for over 40 years.
Stein Club changes name to Capital Stonewall Democrats|Lou Chibbaro Jr.|February 9, 2021|Washington Blade
Ultimately, a small minority of users who question or outright oppose the vaccine threaten to drown out accurate information about the vaccine being spread through its platform.
How the Covid-19 pandemic broke Nextdoor|Rebecca Heilweil|February 9, 2021|Vox

Some towns and state lawmakers have tried in the past, but their attempts were opposed by the unions.
How the Police Bank Millions Through Their Union Contracts|by Andrew Ford, Asbury Park Press, and Agnes Chang, Jeff Kao and Agnel Philip, ProPublica|February 8, 2021|ProPublica
So far, just four members, including Gohmert and Yoho, have announced they will oppose Boehner on Tuesday.
The YOLO Caucus' New Cry for Attention|Ben Jacobs|January 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
But his words felt forced and were belied his 2004 vote to oppose marking Martin Luther King Jr.
Steve Scalise Shows There’s a Fine Line Between Confederate & Southern|Lloyd Green|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
Therefore, some Democrats are under pressure to take policy actions their union allies oppose.
How Public Sector Unions Divide the Democrats|Daniel DiSalvo|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
There is no such thing as a gay lifestyle, except in right-wing propaganda to oppose LGBT equality.
How Canadian Oilmen Pinkwash the Keystone Pipeline|Jay Michaelson|December 28, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Sometimes politicians oppose reform for nefarious reasons—to protect a special interest or a major donor, for example.
Can the U.S. Government Go Moneyball?|Peter Orszag, Jim Nussle|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"But I cannot permit you to oppose yourself to a sword two inches longer than your own," cried Gaubert, almost in a temper.
St. Martin's Summer|Rafael Sabatini
He was ordered to Besanon to take command of the troops there, and to help oppose Napoleon's advance on Paris.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
By men the laws of a nation may be altered without being made contradictory to one another, or to oppose the law of God.
The Ordinance of Covenanting|John Cunningham
Though as strong as the enemy, General Daendals made the most feeble attempt to oppose the landing.
Napoleon's Marshals|R. P. Dunn-Pattison
She would sooner have cut off her hand than oppose her, but she could not cast herself on her neck as she often wished to do.
Skipper Worse|Alexander Lange Kielland

British Dictionary definitions for oppose

oppose

/ (əˈpəʊz) /

verb

(tr) to fight against, counter, or resist strongly

(tr) to be hostile or antagonistic to; be against

(tr) to place or set in opposition; contrast or counterbalance

(tr) to place opposite or facing

(intr) to be or act in opposition

Derived forms of oppose

opposer, nounopposing, adjectiveopposingly, adverboppositive (əˈpɒzɪtɪv), adjective

Word Origin for oppose

C14: via Old French from Latin oppōnere, from ob- against + pōnere to place

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

oppose

OTHER WORDS FOR oppose

OPPOSITES FOR oppose

Origin of oppose

synonym study for oppose

OTHER WORDS FROM oppose

Words nearby oppose

Words related to oppose

How to use oppose in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for oppose

Derived forms of oppose

Word Origin for oppose