Against: meaning, definitions and examples

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against

 

[ əˈɡɛnst ]

Preposition / Adverb / Noun
Oxford 3000
Context #1 | Preposition

in opposition to

In opposition to; contrary to; in contrast with or in defiance of. Used to indicate an action or feeling that is directed towards someone or something.

Synonyms

contrary to, in opposition to, opposed to

Examples of usage

  • I have nothing against him personally, but I disagree with his policies.
  • She competed against the best athletes in the world.
  • He stood firm against all the criticism.
Context #2 | Adverb

in a way that opposes or disagrees with something

In a way that opposes or disagrees with something. Used to indicate resistance or opposition to a particular action or idea.

Synonyms

contrarily, in opposition, oppositely

Examples of usage

  • She spoke out against injustice.
  • He argued against the proposed changes.
  • The students protested against the new school policy.
Context #3 | Noun

a position or attitude of resistance or hostility

A position or attitude of resistance or hostility. Used to refer to a feeling or expression of opposition or disagreement.

Synonyms

opposition, protest, resistance

Examples of usage

  • She took a stand against discrimination.
  • His actions were seen as a protest against the government.
  • The vote was split between for and against the proposal.

Translations

Translations of the word "against" in other languages:

🇵🇹 contra

🇮🇳 के खिलाफ

🇩🇪 gegen

🇮🇩 terhadap

🇺🇦 проти

🇵🇱 przeciw

🇯🇵 に対して

🇫🇷 contre

🇪🇸 contra

🇹🇷 karşı

🇰🇷 에 반대하여

🇸🇦 ضد

🇨🇿 proti

🇸🇰 proti

🇨🇳 反对

🇸🇮 proti

🇮🇸 gegn

🇰🇿 қарсы

🇬🇪 წინააღმდეგ

🇦🇿 əleyhinə

🇲🇽 contra

Etymology

The word 'against' originated from Middle English 'agenest', which is a combination of 'a-' (in opposition to) and 'genest' (contrary to). The usage of 'against' to indicate opposition or contrary action has been present since the 13th century. Over time, it has evolved to represent resistance, disagreement, and hostility towards something or someone.

Word Frequency Rank

Ranking #101, this word is extremely common in English. It's a crucial part of basic vocabulary that's used constantly in both spoken and written communication, making it essential for even basic conversations.