English
against
Etymology

Formed from Middle English ayenes, agenes, againes ("in opposition to"), a southern variant of agen, or directly from again, either way with adverbial genitive singular ending -es; the parasitic -t was added circa 1350, probably by confusion with the superlative ending -est.

Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /əˈɡɛnst/, IPA: /əˈɡeɪnst/
  • (America) IPA: /əˈɡɛnst/
  • (Canada) IPA: /əˈɡɛnst/, /əˈɡeɪnst/, [əˈɡeə̯nst], [əˈɡɛːnst]
Preposition
  1. In a contrary direction to.
    It is hard work to swim against the current.
  2. In physical opposition to; in collision with.
    The rain pounds against the window.
  3. In physical contact with, so as to abut or be supported by.
    The ladder was leaning against the wall.
    The puppy rested its head against a paw.
    The kennel was put against the back wall.
  4. Close to, alongside.
    A row of trees stood against a fence.
    • 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter V, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC ↗:
      We expressed our readiness, and in ten minutes were in the station wagon, rolling rapidly down the long drive, for it was then after nine. […] As we reached the lodge we heard the whistle, and we backed up against one side of the platform as the train pulled up at the other.
  5. In front of; before (a background).
    The giant was silhouetted against the door.
  6. In contrast or comparison with.
    He stands out against his classmates.
    This report sets out the risks against the benefits.
  7. In competition with, versus.
    The Tigers will play against the Bears this weekend.
    • 1910, Emerson Hough, chapter I, in The Purchase Price: Or The Cause of Compromise, Indianapolis, Ind.: The Bobbs-Merrill Company, →OCLC ↗:
      “[…] it is not fair of you to bring against mankind double weapons ! Dangerous enough you are as woman alone, without bringing to your aid those gifts of mind suited to problems which men have been accustomed to arrogate to themselves.”
  8. Contrary to; in conflict with.
    Doing this is against my principles.
    It is against the law to smoke on these premises.
    There was no car in sight so we crossed against the red light.
  9. In opposition to.
    Antonyms: for
    Are you against freedom of choice?
    He waged a ten-year campaign against the company that was polluting the river.
    I'd bet against his succeeding.
    (with implied object) Ten voted for, and three voted against.
    • 1897 December (indicated as 1898), Winston Churchill, chapter IV, in The Celebrity: An Episode, New York, N.Y.: The Macmillan Company; London: Macmillan & Co., Ltd., →OCLC ↗:
      Mr. Cooke at once began a tirade against the residents of Asquith for permitting a sandy and generally disgraceful condition of the roads. So roundly did he vituperate the inn management in particular, and with such a loud flow of words, that I trembled lest he should be heard on the veranda.
  10. Of betting odds, denoting a worse-than-even chance.
    Antonyms: on
    That horse is fifty-to-one against, so it has virtually no chance of winning.
  11. In exchange for.
    The vouchers are redeemable against West End shows and theatre breaks.
  12. As counterbalance to.
  13. As a charge on.
    Tax is levied against income from sales.
  14. As protection from.
    He turned the umbrella against the wind.
    • 1638, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy. […], 5th edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: […] [Robert Young, Miles Flesher, and Leonard Lichfield and William Turner] for Henry Cripps, →OCLC ↗, partition II, section 2, member 6, subsection iv, page 298 ↗:
      Beautie alone is a ſoveraigne remedy againſt feare,griefe,and all melancholy fits; a charm,as Peter de la Seine and many other writers affirme,a banquet it ſelfe;he gives inſtance in diſcontented Menelaus that was ſo often freed by Helenas faire face: and hTully, 3 Tusc. cites Epicurus as a chiefe patron of this Tenent.
  15. In anticipation of; in preparation for (a particular time, event etc.).
    The stores are kept well stocked against a time of need.
    • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 11, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes […], book II, London: […] Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], →OCLC ↗:
      He wrote to a friend of his, that he lived but with browne bread and water, and entreated him to send him a piece of cheese, against [translating pour] the time he was to make a solemne feast.
    • 1886 October – 1887 January, H[enry] Rider Haggard, She: A History of Adventure, London: Longmans, Green, and Co., published 1887, →OCLC ↗:
      "And now leave me, I pray thee, and thou too, my own Kallikrates, for I would get me ready against our journey, and so must ye both, and your servant also."
    • 1938, Norman Lindsay, Age of Consent, 1st Australian edition, Sydney, N.S.W.: Ure Smith, published 1962, →OCLC ↗, page 18:
      Of the two fried chops served him for breakfast he ate one and gave Edmund the other, and put a buttered sandwich of bread in his pocket against the accidents of travel.
  16. (Hollywood) To be paid now in contrast to the following amount to be paid later under specified circumstances, usually that a movie is made or has started filming.
    The studio weren't sure the movie would ever get made, so they only paid $50,000 against $200,000. That way they wouldn't be out very much if filming never began.
  17. (obsolete) Exposed to.
Synonyms Antonyms Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Conjunction
  1. (obsolete) By the time that (something happened); before.
    • 1590, Edmund Spenser, “Book II, Canto IX”, in The Faerie Queene. […], London: […] [John Wolfe] for William Ponsonbie, →OCLC ↗:
      Thence she them brought into a stately Hall, / Wherein were many tables faire dispred, / And ready dight with drapets festiuall, / Against the viaundes should be ministred.
    • 1749, Henry Fielding, Tom Jones, Folio Society, published 1973, page 6:
      He now gave Mrs Deborah positive orders to take the child to her own bed, and to call up a maid-servant to provide it pap, and other things, against it waked.


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