oppose

verb

op·​pose ə-ˈpōz How to pronounce oppose (audio)
opposed; opposing

transitive verb

1
: to place over against something so as to provide resistance, counterbalance, or contrast
one military force opposed to another
concreteness as opposed to abstractionL. E. Lynch
2
: to place opposite or against something
oppose the enemy
oppose a congressional bill
3
: to offer resistance to
opposer noun
Choose the Right Synonym for oppose

oppose, combat, resist, withstand mean to set oneself against someone or something.

oppose can apply to any conflict, from mere objection to bitter hostility or warfare.

opposed the plan

combat stresses the forceful or urgent countering of something.

combat disease

resist implies an overt recognition of a hostile or threatening force and a positive effort to counteract or repel it.

resisting temptation

withstand suggests a more passive resistance.

trying to withstand peer pressure

Examples of oppose in a Sentence

The governor opposes the death penalty. The change is opposed by many of the town's business leaders. The group opposes the mayor and is trying to find a candidate to run against her. You've opposed every suggestion I've made. He met the man who will oppose him in the next election. These two teams opposed each other in last year's playoffs. We're hoping we can get more senators to oppose the legislation.
Recent Examples on the Web Though the city was an isis bastion, there were many residents, especially poor ones, who opposed the group but lacked the resources to escape. Anand Gopal, The New Yorker, 11 Mar. 2024 But Hamas has been pressing for a more durable end to the fighting, which Israel opposes. Leo Sands, Washington Post, 10 Mar. 2024 But some prominent civil rights leaders oppose a ban. USA TODAY, 10 Mar. 2024 The second concerned Article 41.2, which equality activists and women’s rights groups had opposed for decades. Megan Specia, New York Times, 9 Mar. 2024 Related article Most Israelis oppose the court overhaul. Mick Krever, CNN, 8 Mar. 2024 No Moroccan Jew was sent to the Nazi death camps under his watch, though some 2,100 were interned at Vichy work camps in the Sahara as political prisoners who opposed the collaborationist regime. Theo Zenou, Smithsonian Magazine, 8 Mar. 2024 By early Wednesday morning, though, the margin was razor-thin, with 50.2% of California voters supporting the measure and 49.8% opposing. Lindsey Holden, Sacramento Bee, 7 Mar. 2024 The House Freedom Caucus, which contains dozens of the GOP's most conservative members, urged Republicans to vote against the first spending package and oppose the second one being negotiated. Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 7 Mar. 2024

These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'oppose.' 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

Middle English opposen "to question, examine, accuse" (as past participle opposed "opposite, contrary"), borrowed from Anglo-French opposer "to counter, argue in opposition, question, interrogate," re-formation, with poser "to place, pose entry 1," of Latin oppōnere (perfect opposuī, past participle oppositus) "to place (over or against), place as an obstacle, set in opposition to, argue in reply," from ob- ob- + pōnere "to place, set" — more at position entry 1

First Known Use

1579, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Time Traveler
The first known use of oppose was in 1579

Dictionary Entries Near oppose

Cite this Entry

“Oppose.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/oppose. Accessed 18 Mar. 2024.

Kids Definition

oppose

verb
op·​pose ə-ˈpōz How to pronounce oppose (audio)
opposed; opposing
1
: to be or place opposite or against something
2
: to offer resistance to : stand against : resist

Medical Definition

oppose

transitive verb
op·​pose ə-ˈpōz How to pronounce oppose (audio)
opposed; opposing
: to place the ball of (a first digit) against the corresponding part of a second digit of the same hand or foot
some monkeys oppose the big toe

More from Merriam-Webster on oppose

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