against
uh-GEHNST
Against (prep) means In opposition to; contrary to. Example: “She voted against the proposal.”
prep
1
In opposition to; contrary to.
"She voted against the proposal."
"It's against the rules to park here."
"Many residents spoke against the plan to close the library."
2
In physical contact with, touching and typically supported by.
"He leaned the ladder against the wall."
"Rain beat against the window."
"The cat sat with its back against the warm radiator."
3
In competition with; versus.
"The home team played against their rivals."
"It's us against the clock now."
"Our school team will play against a team from the next town."
4
As protection from, or in preparation for.
"They saved money against a rainy day."
"Vaccines protect against the disease."
"She wore a thick coat as protection against the cold wind."
How to use against
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishOpposed to, touching, or in preparation for something.
Common pairings
against the law
lean against
against all odds
protect against
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Etymology
From Middle English ayenes/agenes, a form of "again" with an adverbial ending; the final "t" was added around the 14th century by analogy with superlative endings like "-est."
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “against” mean?
The word “against” means in opposition to; contrary to. In plain terms, opposed to, touching, or in preparation for something.
How do you pronounce “against”?
“Against” is pronounced uh-GEHNST (/əˈɡɛ̟nst/ in IPA).
How do you use “against” in a sentence?
Here is “against” used in a sentence: “She voted against the proposal.”
What is the opposite of “against”?
The opposite of “against” — its antonyms — is with.
What part of speech is “against”?
“Against” is a preposition.
Where does the word “against” come from?
The word “against” dates back to around 1300 and comes from Middle English. From Middle English ayenes/agenes, a form of "again" with an adverbial ending; the final "t" was added around the 14th century by analogy with superlative endings like "-est.".
Is “against” a common word?
“Against” is a very common word in modern English, usually learned at around the A2 level.
How many meanings does “against” have?
“Against” has 4 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: in opposition to; contrary to.
What is the opposite of 'against'?
The main opposite is "for," meaning in favour or in support of something, like voting for a plan rather than against it. "In favour of," "supporting," and "pro" work the same way. When "against" describes physical contact, such as leaning against a wall, it has no true opposite, only "away from."
What are the different meanings of 'against'?
"Against" has several uses. It shows opposition ("against the idea"), physical contact or support ("leaning against the door"), protection ("insured against loss"), and contrast or comparison ("her results against last year's"). It can also mean moving in the opposite direction, as in "sailing against the current." Context decides which sense applies.
What is the difference between 'against' and 'versus'?
Both signal opposition, but "versus" (often shortened to "vs") is used mainly to name two sides in a contest, match, or legal case, like "England versus France." "Against" is broader and more flexible, covering opposition of every kind. You would say "played against them," rarely "played versus them," in ordinary speech.
Example sentences
Real-world examples showing against in context, drawn from published sources. Any opinions expressed are those of the original source and do not reflect the views of FreeDict.com.
Chinese open-weight models are gaining steam against leading offerings from American companies, which has sparked a debate about whether they should be restricted.
From
CNBC · Jul 24, 2026
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