against
English · Thesaurus
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against
- /əˈɡɛnst/ Canada, UK
- /-ˈɡeɪnst/ Canada, UK
- /əˈɡɛnst/ US
- /əˈɡɪnst/
- /əˈɡenst/ Australia, New Zealand
- /-ˈɡæɪnst/ Australia, New Zealand
Rhymes with -ɛnst, -eɪnst
Where it comes from
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. By surface analysis, again + -st (excrescent ending).
Cognate with Saterland Frisian juun (“against”), West Frisian tsjin (“against”), Dutch tegen (“against”), German Low German gegen (“against”), German gegen (“against”), Icelandic gegn (“against”).
preposition againest · agaynest · agaynst · ageinest · ageinst · agenest
- In a contrary direction to. It is hard work to swim against the current.
- In physical opposition to; in collision with. The rain pounds against the window.
- In physical contact with, so as to abut or be supported by. The ladder was leaning against the wall.
- Close to, alongside. A row of trees stood against a fence.
- In front of; before (a background). The giant was silhouetted against the door.
- In contrast or comparison with. There is an awesome authenticity in Barrus's voice which, I imagine, is frightening to those who must evaluate art against a one-dimensional standard of political rectitude.
-
In competition with, versus.
The Tigers will play against the Bears this weekend.
Similar: versus
- Contrary to; in conflict with. Doing this is against my principles.
-
In opposition to.
His mind is closed against all arguments.
Opposite: for
-
Of betting odds, denoting a worse-than-even chance.
That horse is fifty-to-one against, so it has virtually no chance of winning.
Opposite: on
- In exchange for. The vouchers are redeemable against West End shows and theatre breaks.
- As counterbalance to.
- As a charge on. Tax is levied against income from sales.
- As protection from. He turned the umbrella against the wind.
- In anticipation of; in preparation for (a particular time, event etc.). The stores are kept well stocked against a time of need.
- 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.
- Exposed to.
Opposite: with
conjunction againest · agaynest · agaynst · ageinest · ageinst · agenest
- By the time that (something happened); before. 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.
Thesaurus
Closest in meaning: about, according, address, ago, ahead, aimed, aiming, ali, alleviation, anti, anti-, area, attack, avoid, badmouthing, ban
preposition
Opposite: with
Translations
Every language
prep in a contrary direction to
| Español | contra |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 거슬러 geoseulleo, 맞서 matseo |
| 日本語 | ...に反して ...ni han shite |
| Kiswahili | dhidi ya |
| Português | contra |
| Français | contre |
| Deutsch | gegen |
| Italiano | contrario, contro |
| Ελληνικά | κόντρα kóntra |
| Română | contra |
| Русский | про́тив prótiv |
| العربية | ضد ḍidd |
| עברית | נגד neged |
prep in physical contact with
| Español | contra |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 기대어 gidaeeo |
| Português | contra |
| Français | contre |
| Deutsch | gegen |
| Italiano | contro |
| Ελληνικά | κοντά kontá |
| Русский | по po |
prep close to
| Español | cerca de |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | 근처에 geuncheo'e |
| Português | perto de |
| Français | contre |
| Ελληνικά | κοντά kontá |
| Русский | напро́тив naprótiv, ря́дом с rjádom s |
prep in front of; before a background
| Español | contra, frente |
|---|---|
| Português | defronte, diante de |
| Ελληνικά | με me |
| Русский | напро́тив naprótiv, пе́ред péred, на фо́не na fóne |
prep in contrast or comparison with
| Português | em relação a |
|---|---|
| Italiano | contro |
| Ελληνικά | rest |
| Русский | по сравне́нию с po sravnéniju s |
prep in competition with
| Español | en contra |
|---|---|
| 한국어 | -와 -wa, 맞서 matseo |
| Português | contra |
| Français | contre |
| Deutsch | gegen, mit |
| Italiano | contro |
| Ελληνικά | κατά katá |
| Русский | про́тив prótiv |
| Tiếng Việt | với |
prep in opposition to
| Español | en contra de, enfrente de, en pugna de, al opósito de, contra, en contrario de |
|---|---|
| 日本語 | ...に逆らって ...ni sakaratte, ...に反して ...ni han shite, ...に対して ...ni tai shite |
| 中文 | 反對 /反对 fǎnduì |
| Kiswahili | juu ya, dhidi ya |
| Português | contra |
| Français | contre |
| Deutsch | gegen, wider |
| Italiano | contro |
| Ελληνικά | κατά katá |
| Română | contra |
| Русский | про́тив prótiv |
| Tiếng Việt | chống lại |
| العربية | ضِدّ ḍidd |
| עברית | נגד neged |
prep in anticipation of, in preparation for
| Français | pour |
|---|
Talk about this word "against." Wiktionary, via Micwyn, micwyn.com/word/against. Accessed 6 Nov. 2026. against. (n.d.). In Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Retrieved November 6, 2026, from https://micwyn.com/word/against "against." Wiktionary, via Micwyn. Accessed November 6, 2026. https://micwyn.com/word/against.Cite this
@misc{against_2026,
title = {against},
howpublished = {Wiktionary, via Micwyn},
year = {2026},
url = {https://micwyn.com/word/against},
urldate = {2026-11-06}
}
