against

[ uh-genst, uh-geynst ]

/ əˈgɛnst, əˈgeɪnst /

SEE SYNONYMS FOR against ON THESAURUS.COM

preposition

in opposition to; contrary to; adverse or hostile to: twenty votes against ten; against reason.

in resistance to or defense from: protection against burglars.

in an opposite direction to: to ride against the wind.

into contact or collision with; toward; upon: The rain beat against the window.

in contact with: to lean against the wall.

in preparation for; in provision for: money saved against a rainy day.

having as background: a design of flowers against a dark wall.

in exchange for; as a balance to or debit or charge on: He asked for an advance against his salary.

in competition with: a racehorse running against his own record time.

in comparison or contrast with: a matter of reason as against emotion.

beside; near; before: The car is against the building.

conjunction

Archaic. before; by the time that.

Idioms for against

over against, in contrast with: the rich over against the poor.

Origin of against

1125–75; Middle English agens, ageynes, equivalent to ageyn again + -es -s¹; for -t cf. whilst, amongst

Words nearby against

agade, agadir, agag, again, again and again, against, against all odds, against one's better judgment, against one's will, against the clock, against the grain

British Dictionary definitions for over against

against

/ (əˈɡɛnst, əˈɡeɪnst) /

preposition

opposed to; in conflict or disagreement with they fought against the legislation

standing or leaning beside or in front of a ladder against the wall

coming in contact with the branches of a tree brushed against the bus

in contrast to silhouettes are outlines against a light background

having an adverse or unfavourable effect on the economic system works against small independent companies

as a protection from or means of defence from the adverse effects of a safeguard against contaminated water

in exchange for or in return for

rare in preparation for he gave them warm clothing against their journey through the night

as against as opposed to or as compared with he had two shots at him this time as against only one last time

Word Origin for against

C12: ageines, from again, ageyn, etc, again + -es genitive ending; the spelling with -t (C16) was probably due to confusion with superlatives ending in -st

Idioms and Phrases with over against (1 of 2)

over against

As opposed to, contrasted with, as in Over against the Smiths, the Johnsons were well off. [c. 1500]

Idioms and Phrases with over against (2 of 2)

against

In addition to the idioms beginning with against

against all odds
against one's better judgment
against one's will
against the clock
against the grain
against the tide

also see:

beat one's head against the wall
cards are stacked against
come up against
count against
dead set against
guard against
have something against
hold something against
lift a hand against
over against
pit someone against
run against
set against
swim against
turn against
two strikes against
up against

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

against

preposition

conjunction

Idioms for against

Origin of against

Words nearby against

British Dictionary definitions for over against

preposition

Word Origin for against

Idioms and Phrases with over against (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with over against (2 of 2)

BROWSE DICTIONARY

Learning

against

preposition

conjunction

Idioms for against

Origin of against

Words nearby against

Words related to over against

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preposition

Word Origin for against

Idioms and Phrases with over against (1 of 2)

Idioms and Phrases with over against (2 of 2)

British Dictionary definitions for over against