against
35 ENTRIES FOUND:
- against (preposition)
- back (noun)
- clock (noun)
- flow (noun)
- grain (noun)
- swim (verb)
- tide (noun)
- wall (noun)
- as (conjunction)
- come (verb)
- crime (noun)
- declare (verb)
- go (verb)
- guard (verb)
- have (verb)
- hedge (verb)
- hold (verb)
- hope (verb)
- inform (verb)
- insure (verb)
- inveigh (verb)
- militate (verb)
- over (preposition)
- pit (verb)
- proceed (verb)
- provide (verb)
- react (verb)
- set (verb)
- set (adjective)
- side (verb)
- take (verb)
- tell (verb)
- time (noun)
- turn (verb)
- up (adjective)
Britannica Dictionary definition of AGAINST
1
a
:
in opposition to (someone or something)
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Everyone was against them. [=everyone opposed them]
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We must continue the struggle for justice and against injustice.
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She voted against the proposal.
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You're either for/with me or against me! [=you either support me or oppose me]
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He spoke against appeasing the enemy.
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The U.S. fought against Germany in World Wars I and II. = The U.S. and Germany fought against each other in World Wars I and II.
-
Some people were for the proposal but others were against it.
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There's a law against doing that.
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His parents were angry when they learned he had borrowed the car against their wishes. [=he borrowed the car even though they did not want him to]
-
Against my advice, she quit her job. [=she quit her job even though I advised her not to]
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He was being held against his will. [=he was being kept in a place by force even though he wanted to leave]
b
:
in competition with (someone or something)
-
two runners racing against each other
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It's the Yankees against [=versus] the Red Sox tonight.
2
— used to indicate the person or thing that is affected or harmed by something
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He denies the charges that have been made against him.
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The evidence against him is very convincing.
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The war was a crime against humanity.
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Someone has been making threats against her.
3
:
not agreeing with or allowed by (something, such as a law)
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You can't do that. It's against the law. [=the law does not allow it]
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Touching the ball with your hands is against the rules.
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I won't do it. It's against my principles. [=my principles don't allow it; I believe that it is wrong]
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They were acting against tradition. [=acting in a way that did not agree with tradition]
4
a
:
not helping or favoring (someone)
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Everything was/went against them. [=everything that happened was unfavorable to them]
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Her appearance is/counts against her. [=her appearance does not help her; people form a bad opinion of her because of her appearance]
b
:
as a reason for disliking (someone or something)
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I have nothing against him. [=I don't dislike him; I have no reason for disliking him]
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We disagree about many things, but I don't hold it/that against you. [=I don't dislike you because of it/that]
5
— used to say that one thing is being compared with another
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Profits are up this year against last year. [=profits are higher this year than they were last year]
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The yen rose/fell against the dollar.
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a graph that plots height against weight
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We will weigh/balance the risk against the possible benefit. [=we will compare the risk with the possible benefit]
6
a
:
as a defense or protection from (something)
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He built a crude hut as a shelter against [=from] the cold.
-
injections against flu
b
:
in preparation for (something)
-
saving against [=for] an uncertain future
7
— used to describe hitting or touching something or someone
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I accidentally knocked/hit my head against the shelf.
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The waves were beating against [=on] the shore.
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She accidentally brushed against him as she walked by.
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The ladder was leaning against the wall.
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She was resting her head against the side of the chair.
8
:
in a direction opposite to the movement of (something)
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They were sailing against the wind.
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swimming against the current/tide
9
:
with the background of (something)
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The tree looked beautiful when viewed against the dark sky.
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Her colorful coat stood out against the dull colors of the room.
10
:
as a charge on (something)
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The purchase was charged against [=to] her account. [=the amount of money needed for the purchase was added to the amount owed in her account]
