run against
Idioms-
Also, run up against or run into . Encounter something, especially a difficulty, unexpectedly. For example, We didn't know we'd run up against so much opposition , or He ran into trouble with his taxes . [Late 1300s]
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Work against, as in Public sentiment ran against her . [Late 1300s]
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Oppose for elective office, as in Susan decided to run against a very popular incumbent . This usage is a figurative application of running in a footrace. [First half of 1800s]
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
It argued that Alaska somehow was violating federal law when it allowed a second candidate named Dan Sullivan to run against the incumbent with the same name and Democrat Mary Peltola.
From Slate ● Oct. 23, 2026
Even Councilmember Heather Hutt, perhaps the council’s least combative voice, said she doesn’t trust Raman after seeing her first endorse the mayor and then run against her.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 12, 2026
Having run against Badenoch for Tory leader in 2022, he praised her performance as leader so far - saying her hoping to be Britain's next prime minister was a weight off his own shoulders.
From BBC ● Sep. 18, 2026
The other deadline will come in November, when Infantino’s opponents would need to enter a candidate to run against him.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 11, 2026
“So I will not have you run against a grown man. Where is our little Hugi?”
From "Norse Mythology" by Neil Gaiman
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Get a wordDefinitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
