against

1 of 2

preposition

ə-ˈgen(t)st 

-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

Synonyms

Preposition

• on
• upon

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.

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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

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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

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