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against

Pronunciation: /əˈgɛnst, əˈgeɪnst/

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Definition of against

preposition

  • 1in opposition to:the fight against crime he decided against immediate publication swimming against the tide
  • with reference to legal action:the first victim gave evidence against him
  • with reference to a sporting contest:the championship match against Somerset
  • 2in anticipation of and preparation for (a problem or difficulty):he gritted his teeth against the pain makeshift barricades against tank attacks
  • (in betting) in anticipation of the failure of:the odds were 5-1 against England
  • in resistance to; as protection from:he turned up his collar against the wind
  • in relation to (an amount of money owed, due, or lent) so as to reduce, cancel, or secure it:money was advanced against the value of the property
  • 3in conceptual contrast to:the benefits must be weighed against the costs
  • in visual contrast to:he was silhouetted against the light of the stair window
  • 4in or into physical contact with (something), so as to be supported by or collide with it:she stood with her back against the door frustration made him bang his head against the wall

Phrases

against one's wishes

when one is unwilling or has refused:if any photos or information are included here against your wishes, please let me know and they will be removed immediately

against the law (or rules)

illegal or unlawful:cockfighting has been against the law in South Carolina for 120 years it was against the rules to have a guy in a girl’s room

have something against someone

dislike or bear a grudge towards someone:I have nothing against you personally

Origin:

Middle English: from again + -s (adverbial genitive) + -t probably by association with superlatives (as in amongst)

against in other Oxford dictionaries

Definition of against in the US English dictionary

Nearby words

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