against

1 of 2

preposition

ə-ˈgen(t)st How to pronounce against (audio)
-ˈgin(t)st,
-ˈgān(t)st
1
a
: in opposition or hostility to
spoke against his enemies
b
: not in conformity with : contrary to
against the law
c
: in competition with
racing against each other
d
: as a basis for disapproval of
had nothing against him
2
a
: directly opposite : facing
… she sat down just over against me …Daniel Defoe
b
obsolete : exposed to
3
: compared or contrasted with
profits are up against last year
4
a
: in preparation or provision for
saving against an uncertain future
b
: as a defense or protection from
a shelter against the cold
5
a
: in the direction of and into contact with
knocked against the ropes
b
: in contact with
leaning against the wall
6
: in a direction opposite to the motion or course of : counter to
sail against the wind
7
a
: as a counterbalance to
weighing risk against profit
b
: in exchange for
a lower rate against the dollar
c
: as a charge on
charged against her account
8
: before the background of
viewed against the sky

against

2 of 2

conjunction

archaic
: in preparation for the time when
… throw on another log of wood against father comes home.Charles Dickens

Examples of against in a Sentence

Preposition We must continue the struggle for justice and against injustice. She voted against the proposal. He spoke against appeasing the enemy. Some people were for the proposal but others were against it. There's a law against doing that. two runners racing against each other Touching the ball with your hands is against the rules.
Recent Examples on the Web
Preposition
Other shareholders filed two lawsuits against Walmart, claiming some current and former directors and officers breached their fiduciary duties and violated federal securities law, also in connection with the company's distribution and dispensing of prescription opioids. Serenah McKay, arkansasonline.com, 22 Oct. 2024 The email was included in discovery for a lawsuit against Valve. Stephen Pastis, Forbes, 21 Oct. 2024 Saquon Barkley Saquon Barkley was nothing short of unstoppable against his former team, the New York Giants, on Sunday. Johannes Sasay-Wada, CNN, 21 Oct. 2024 That lawsuit, from Houston attorney Tony Buzbee, who has already filed six previous jury-seeking suits against Combs for rape and more, was filed Sunday in New York federal court under the New York City Victims of Gender-Motivated Violence Protection Act. Dominic Patten, Deadline, 21 Oct. 2024 See all Example Sentences for against 

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'against.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.

Word History

Etymology

Preposition

Middle English ayenest, ayenst, ayeinst, agaynste, alteration (with parasitic -t, perhaps originally from partial assimilation to a following article) of ayeines, ageynes, from ayein, ageyn again + -es -'s

Conjunction

Middle English, derivative of against against entry 1

First Known Use

Preposition

13th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a

Conjunction

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Time Traveler
The first known use of against was in the 13th century

Dictionary Entries Near against

Cite this Entry

“Against.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/against. Accessed 31 Oct. 2024.

Kids Definition

against

preposition
ə-ˈgen(t)st,
-ˈgin(t)st,
-ˈgān(t)st
1
a
: opposed to
a campaign against disease
play against each other
b
: contrary to
against the law
2
: opposite entry 4
over against the park
3
a
: in preparation for
storing food against the winter
b
: as a protection from
a shield against aggression
4
: in or into contact with
ran against a tree
leaning against the wall
5
: in a direction opposite to
against the wind
6
: before the background of
green trees against the blue sky

More from Merriam-Webster on against

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