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]
Work against, as in Public sentiment ran against her . [Late 1300s]
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.

Some principals urged her to run against the union’s incumbent president.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 18, 2026

The two had previously run against each other in the 2024 GOP primary, with Gonzales narrowly beating Herrera in a runoff.

From Slate • Mar. 9, 2026

Bruno Fernandes' close-range finish in the 81st minute ended an eight-game winless run against Tottenham for United, who cemented their hold on fourth place in the race to qualify for next season's Champions League.

From Barron's • Feb. 7, 2026

That makes Sunday’s game more than a test of whether Stidham can go from warming the bench to leading a Super Bowl run against the team that dumped him.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jan. 23, 2026

“Maybe I’m wrong, but I’m willing to run against him to test the theory. It is all up to Mr. Riddle.”

From "Seabiscuit: An American Legend" by Laura Hillenbrand

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023