oppose

verb

op·​pose ə-ˈpōz 

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 abstraction

—L. E. Lynch

2

: to place opposite or against something

oppose the enemy

oppose a congressional bill

3

: to offer resistance to

opposer noun

Synonyms

• buck
• defy
• fight
• repel
• resist
• withstand

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

Such a test would be a sign of China’s weakening influence over Pyongyang and could spur Seoul to try to acquire nuclear weapons of its own—a position that both South Korea and the United States officially oppose but is gaining traction in Western policy circles. —Sungmin Cho, Foreign Affairs, 12 Nov. 2024

On October 10, commissioners voted to oppose an expansion of the number of SpaceX rocket launches from Vandenberg Space Force Base, on the Santa Barbara coast. —Joe Mathews, The Mercury News, 8 Nov. 2024

The issue of whether and how the FCC should regulate internet providers’ carriage of different sites, services, and apps did not come up in the 2024 campaign, but Republicans have consistently opposed net-neutrality regulations. —Rob Pegoraro, PCMAG, 6 Nov. 2024

Harris generally supports a gradual transition to electric vehicles in the automotive industry that Trump generally opposes. —Paul Egan, Detroit Free Press, 6 Nov. 2024

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

15th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1

Kids Definition

oppose

verb

op·​pose ə-ˈpōz 

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 

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