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

Examples of against in a Sentence

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Preposition

There is no rule against overturning a precedent, though. —Louis Menand, The New Yorker, 8 Apr. 2024

George Huerta filed suit, on behalf of himself and other employees, against CSI Electrical Contractors (CSI), for whom the employees performed work at a solar power facility. —Dan Eaton, San Diego Union-Tribune, 8 Apr. 2024

Angels owner Arte Moreno was emphatically booed Friday night when his image ever-so-briefly appeared on the Angel Stadium screen during a highlights video before the team’s home opener against the Boston Red Sox. —Chuck Schilken, Los Angeles Times, 8 Apr. 2024

The text strongly opposed the criminalization of homosexuality, something Francis spoke out against ahead of trip to Africa in 2023. —Christopher Lamb, CNN, 8 Apr. 2024

After the fights at the Huntington Beach rally in March 2017, the men were originally charged in 2018 with violating federal laws against rioting and conspiracy to riot. —Will Carless, USA TODAY, 8 Apr. 2024

Countless Americans cannot afford to race against celestial orbits and must instead wait for the shadow of the moon to come to them. —Marina Koren, The Atlantic, 8 Apr. 2024

On this edition of the Whole Hog Baseball Podcast, Matt Jones and Bubba Carpenter talk about the Razorbacks' 3-1 week against Auburn and UALR, and look ahead to this week's series against LSU. —Matt Jones, arkansasonline.com, 27 Mar. 2024

Bitcoin, which was first mined in January 2009, was designed to be limited in nature to protect its value against scarcity and inflation. —Michael Butler, Miami Herald, 27 Mar. 2024

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