against
Pronunciation
  • (British) IPA: /əˈɡɛnst/, /əˈɡɛɪnst/
  • (America) IPA: /əˈɡɛnst/
  • (Canada) IPA: /əˈɡeɪnst/
Preposition
  1. (heading, physical) A close but separated relationship.
    1. In a contrary direction to.
      If you swim against the current, you must work harder.
    2. Close to.
      The kennel was put against the back wall.
    3. In front of; before a background.
      The giant was silhouetted against the door.
    4. In physical contact with.
      The puppy rested its head against a paw.
    5. In physical opposition to, or in collision with.
      The rain pounds against the window.
  2. (heading, social) A contrasting or competitive relationship.
    1. In contrast and/or comparison with.
      He stands out against his local classmates.
    2. 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 639762314 ↗, page 0029 ↗:
        “[…] 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.”
    3. In opposition to.
      Are you against freedom of choice?  I'd bet against his succeeding.
  3. In exchange for.
    The vouchers are redeemable against West End shows and theatre breaks.
  4. As counterbalance to.
  5. As a charge on.
  6. As protection from.
    He turned the umbrella against the wind.
    • 1638, Democritus Junior [pseudonym; Robert Burton], The Anatomy of Melancholy. […], 5th edition, Oxford, Oxfordshire: Printed [by Robert Young, Miles Flesher, and Leonard Lichfield and William Turner] for Henry Cripps, OCLC 932915040 ↗, 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.
  7. (obsolete) Exposed to.
  8. In anticipation of; in preparation for (a particular time, event etc.).
    • 1603, Michel de Montaigne, chapter 11, in John Florio, transl., The Essayes, […], book II, printed at London: By Val[entine] Simmes for Edward Blount […], OCLC 946730821 ↗:
      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 {{transterm
    • 2003, Rodger J. Bille, A Few of the Chosen: Survivors of Terrorism, Trafford Publishing ISBN 9781412010085, page 8
      Rod, who always distrusted such methods, was forced to accept the new way but had begun to stash away large amounts of cash against the day that the system might be sabotaged or failed entirely.
  9. (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.
Synonyms Antonyms Translations Translations
  • French: contre
  • Portuguese: perto de
  • Russian: напро́тив
  • Spanish: cerca de
Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations Translations
  • Italian: in cambio di
  • Portuguese: por
  • Russian: взамен
Translations Translations Conjunction
  1. (obsolete) By the time that (something happened); before.
    • 1590, Edmund Spenser, The Faerie Qveene. […], London: Printed [by John Wolfe] for VVilliam Ponsonbie, OCLC 960102938 ↗, book II, canto IX:
      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 1973, p. 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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