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

Example Sentences

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. See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Preposition
Because the casting and storylines that developed gave us people to root for and against — something every great Survivor season needs. 14. Dalton Ross, EW.com, 18 May 2023 Joining a chorus of constitutional and media rights scholars, the media coalition denounced the city’s lawsuit against Knock LA journalist Ben Camacho and the Stop LAPD Spying Coalition as a blatant violation of their 1st Amendment rights and a dangerous attack on press freedoms more broadly. Kevin Rector, Los Angeles Times, 18 May 2023 As part of the campaign, for every person tagged, EltaMD will donate one bottle of sunscreen to the Melanoma Research Foundation up to $100,000 in product value to aid the fight against skin cancer. ELLE, 18 May 2023 Musk admitted that the company has come up against problems producing the all-electric truck. Sebastian Blanco, Car and Driver, 18 May 2023 That's the magic of lightweight running shoes—the perfect fusion of technology, design, and functionality for those who want their shoes to work with them, not against them. Talene Appleton, menshealth.com, 18 May 2023 The documents reveal profound concerns about the war’s trajectory and Kyiv’s capacity to wage a successful offensive against Russian forces. Devlin Barrett, Washington Post, 18 May 2023 The duke and duchess have previously taken legal action, filing multiple lawsuits against the likes of Associated Newspapers. Chelsey Sanchez, Harper's BAZAAR, 18 May 2023 There is evidence that less intensive and less expensive therapeutic interventions against suicide might help children, at least those at the highest risk and, by extension, put less pressure on the medical system. Maggie Jones, New York Times, 17 May 2023 See More

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 May. 2023.

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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