How to Use up against in a Sentence

up against

phrase

• Prop that goddamn phone up against that mirror and film yourself.
  — Emily Rella, PEOPLE, 22 July 2026
• In the two years since, the Knicks have bumped right up against their second-apron hard cap.
  — Bryan Toporek, Forbes.com, 11 July 2026
• Flip your gaze upward, and the second bed is right there, nestled up against the headliner.
  — New Atlas, 3 July 2026
• Two sides that are up against the hotel do not currently have siding but can be easily added!
  — Pete Grathoff, Kansas City Star, 16 July 2026
• Matthews was up against elite competition all down the line, via Puck IQ.
  — Allan Mitchell, New York Times, 20 July 2026
• Argentina are a better match-up against Spain in possession, too.
  — Sukhman Singh, New York Times, 18 July 2026
• What are English teachers up against in the classroom in 2026?
  — Los Angeles Times, 1 July 2026
• Our hero and our villain find themselves up against a more ruthless, powerful force than either of them is prepared for.
  — Andy Andersen, Vulture, 17 July 2026
• Each new body part is tinged with a bit of pleasure, pushing up against the edges of my sadness and embracing it chummily.
  — Literary Hub, 20 July 2026
• Daemon’s ambitions too big by far, crashing up against reality time and again.
  — Erik Kain, Forbes.com, 20 July 2026
• That is up against huge American shows, so BritBox really cuts through.
  — Georg Szalai, HollywoodReporter, 14 July 2026
• The following day, the singer returned to the football field to cheer on Travis in his match-up against the Las Vegas Raiders.
  — Alicia Brunker, InStyle, 3 July 2026
• Most notably, though, is its easy-to-clean material, which one flight attendant appreciates when up against dirty baggage claims and surprise spills.
  — Julia Morlino, Travel + Leisure, 30 June 2026
• The Kansas City Royals right-hander matched up against the red-hot Philadelphia Phillies.
  — Kansas City Star, 5 July 2026
• Last year, the number of continuing claims, which are made by people who filed for unemployment insurance for a week or more, was consistently butting up against four-year highs.
  — Alicia Wallace, CNN Money, 23 July 2026
• These people booed Walker and booed Contreras, all for having the misfortune of matching up against Schwarber, head to head.
  — Tyler Kepner, New York Times, 14 July 2026
• When two young lovers find themselves up against stubborn, money-minded fathers, Scapin jumps into action with outrageous tricks, bold lies, and comic chaos at every turn.
  — Ut Community Press, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 July 2026
• The Republican advantage this year is much larger — $125 million piled up against Democrats, who have as much debt as money.
  — David Weigel, semafor.com, 22 July 2026
• What stood out was his confidence; Bouaddi was never cowed up against the experienced pairing of Bruno Guimaraes and Casemiro.
  — Conor O'Neill, New York Times, 22 July 2026
• His trademark smirk and knowing stare are now feared by any opponent up against Norway, but don’t be fooled into thinking Haaland isn’t serious about his career.
  — Ben Church, CNN Money, 11 July 2026
• France scored from these situations when 1-0 up against Sweden (round of 32), Norway (groups) and Senegal (groups).
  — Simon Hughes, New York Times, 9 July 2026
• The conditioning was excellent, and the layout offers fantastic variety, winding along the river and pressing up against a local airport.
  — Scott Kramer, Forbes.com, 30 June 2026
• The Sixers can now roll out a perimeter attack of Maxey, Brown and Edgecombe, which is going to be nearly impossible for teams to match up against.
  — Zach Harper, New York Times, 1 July 2026
• Muncy entered Stage 2 of All-Star fan voting this week as the favorite to claim the starting nod at third base, up against fellow finalist Alec Bohm.
  — Maddie Lee, Los Angeles Times, 3 July 2026
• The UConn experience under Jim Penders and his staff provided foundation for what Fedko would be up against as a pro.
  — Dom Amore, Hartford Courant, 5 July 2026
• The congressman is also up against an incumbent in a national environment where Democrats are over-performing in conservative areas this year.
  — Phillip M. Bailey, USA Today, 19 July 2026
• The quest for a fourth win will come down to the wire, as the Cardinals finish up against the Jets, Saints, Raiders and 49ers, who might be resting old players in the finale.
  — Vic Tafur, New York Times, 17 July 2026
• The British, meanwhile, have marked 250 years since Americans rose up against their colonial authority by minting a 250-ounce coin.
  — Max Grinstein, The Washington Examiner, 3 July 2026
• Technology is improving quickly, and security teams, who are up against growing attack surfaces and constantly changing environments, are already stretched thin on talent.
  — Seemant Sehgal, Forbes.com, 24 Feb. 2026
• The American Revolution is often told as a heroic story of 13 colonies rising up against a mighty empire and, with some help from France, winning their independence.
  — R. Grant Gilmore Iii, The Conversation, 30 June 2026