oppose
[ uh-pohz ]
/ əˈpoʊz /
verb (used with object), op·posed, op·pos·ing.
verb (used without object), op·posed, op·pos·ing.
to be or act in opposition.
Origin of oppose
1350–1400; Middle English < Old French
opposer, blend of Latin
oppōnere to set against and Old French
poser to
pose1, associated with the L past participle
oppositus
SYNONYMS FOR oppose
1
confront,
contravene.
Oppose,
resist,
withstand imply setting up a force against something. The difference between
oppose and
resist is somewhat that between offensive and defensive action. To
oppose is mainly to fight against, in order to thwart, certain tendencies or procedures of which one does not approve:
The lobbyists opposed the passage of the bill.
Resist suggests that the subject is already threatened by the forces, or by the imminent possibility, against which he or she struggles:
to resist temptation. Again, whereas
oppose always suggests an attitude of great disapproval,
resist may imply an inner struggle in which the will is divided:
She tried unsuccessfully to resist the temptation to eat dessert.
Withstand generally implies successful resistance; it may refer to endurance that allows one to emerge unharmed (
to withstand a shock ), as well as to active resistance:
to withstand an attack.
2 prevent.
4 contradict.
OTHER WORDS FROM oppose
Words nearby oppose
Example sentences from the Web for opposing
British Dictionary definitions for opposing
oppose
/ (əˈpəʊz) /
verb
(tr)
to fight against, counter, or resist strongly
(tr)
to be hostile or antagonistic to; be against
(tr)
to place or set in opposition; contrast or counterbalance
(tr)
to place opposite or facing
(intr)
to be or act in opposition
Derived forms of oppose
opposer, noun opposing, adjective opposingly, adverb oppositive (əˈpɒzɪtɪv), adjectiveWord Origin for oppose
C14: via Old French from Latin
oppōnere, from
ob- against +
pōnere to place