AGAINST Definition & Meaning

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against

[ uh-genst, uh-geynst ]

Phonetic (Standard)IPA

preposition

in opposition to; contrary to; adverse or hostile to: against reason.
twenty votes against ten;
against reason.
in resistance to or defense from:
protection against burglars.
in an opposite direction to:
to ride against the wind.
into contact or collision with; toward; upon:
The rain beat against the window.
in contact with:
to lean against the wall.
in preparation for; in provision for:
money saved against a rainy day.
having as background:
a design of flowers against a dark wall.
in exchange for; as a balance to or debit or charge on:
He asked for an advance against his salary.
in competition with:
a racehorse running against his own record time.
in comparison or contrast with:
a matter of reason as against emotion.
beside; near; before:
The car is against the building.

conjunction

Archaic. before; by the time that.

against

/ əˈɡɛnst; əˈɡeɪnst /

preposition

opposed to; in conflict or disagreement with
they fought against the legislation
standing or leaning beside or in front of
a ladder against the wall
coming in contact with
the branches of a tree brushed against the bus
in contrast to
silhouettes are outlines against a light background
having an adverse or unfavourable effect on
the economic system works against small independent companies
as a protection from or means of defence from the adverse effects of
a safeguard against contaminated water
in exchange for or in return for
rare.
in preparation for
he gave them warm clothing against their journey through the night
as against
as opposed to or as compared with
he had two shots at him this time as against only one last time

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of against¹

First recorded in 1125–75; Middle English agens, ageynes, equivalent to ageyn again + -es -s ¹; for -t whilst, amongst

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�y��vlog History and Origins

Origin of against¹

C12: ageines, from again, ageyn, etc, again + -es genitive ending; the spelling with -t (C16) was probably due to confusion with superlatives ending in -st

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Idioms and Phrases

over against,
1. positioned across from or opposite; facing:
  The debate teams were seated over against each other.
2. in contrast with:
  rich people over against poor people.

More idioms and phrases containing against

beat one's head against the wall
cards are stacked against
come up against
count against
dead set against
guard against
have something against
hold something against
lift a hand against
over against
pit someone against
run against
set against
swim against
turn against
two strikes against
up against

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Example Sentences

Examples have not been reviewed.

Organizations such as the Japanese American National Museum have feared losing their federal funding ever since President Trump took office and began his campaign against diversity, equity and inclusion, Fujioka said, adding that many organizations have scrubbed their websites to remove any reference to DEI.

From

While this is best reviewed movie yet and has amassed more than 30 awards at film festivals, when the film opened in Mexico last November it went up against Hollywood behemoths such as “Wicked” and “Gladiator II,” which hindered its box-office potential.

From

When it arrives, in simple letters against a black backdrop, it doesn’t so much introduce the film as cleave it in half.

From

In one of the film’s most arresting shots, a recurring image in which both young men are nakedly embracing against the glinting dark coal that envelops them, Trương finds a roughened tenderness that captures just how enamored Việt and Nam are with one another.

From

Their tender love story is juxtaposed against a much more tragic tale.

From

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

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