against
gb/əɡˈɛnst/ us/əɡˈɛnst/
A2
English
~ 200
Senses
0 senses
preposition
A2
relation
1
in opposition to
Used to say that someone does not agree with or wants to stop something.
Usage pattern:
[someone/something] against [someone/something]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'against' with 'for' when expressing opinions. Remember: 'against' means you do not support something.
Synonyms
opposed to (More formal and often used in written contexts.)
Antonyms
in favor of (Expresses support rather than opposition.)
Collocations
fight against
|protest against
|vote against
|stand against
|compete against
Themes
conflict
|opinions
|law
|core_vocabulary
|communication
Examples
- They voted against the new law.
- She is strongly against smoking in public places.
- The team played against their biggest rivals.
- Many people are against the idea of raising taxes.
- He stood against the proposal.
Learner examples
- I am against that plan.
- She is against smoking.
- They play against another team.
- We are against the new rules.
- He is against the idea.
preposition
A2
relation
2
touching or leaning on
Used to say something is touching or leaning on another thing.
Usage pattern:
[something] against [surface/object]
Common mistake:
Learners may confuse 'against' with 'on' or 'next to'. 'Against' usually means touching for support or pressure.
Synonyms
on ('On' can mean in contact, but 'against' emphasizes side contact or support.)
Antonyms
away from (Indicates distance rather than contact.)
Collocations
lean against
|rest against
|press against
Themes
spatial
|daily life
|core_vocabulary
|space
Examples
- She leaned against the wall.
- The ladder was placed against the house.
- He pressed his hands against the glass.
- The bike was propped against the fence.
Learner examples
- I put the chair against the wall.
- He stands against the door.
- The car is against the tree.
- She leans against the window.
preposition
B1
relation
3
contrasted with background
Used to say something looks different because of what is behind it or next to it.
Usage pattern:
[something] against [background/reference]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse this with physical contact meaning; here it refers to visual or conceptual contrast.
Synonyms
contrasted with (More formal; often used in artistic or analytical contexts.)
Antonyms
blended with (Indicates no clear contrast with surroundings.)
Collocations
stand out against
|dark against light
Themes
visual
|description
|core_vocabulary
Examples
- The dark trees stood out sharply against the snow.
- Her red dress looked beautiful against the blue sky.
- The flag fluttered against the backdrop of mountains.
Learner examples
- The white boat is easy to see against the dark water.
- The moon looks big against the night sky.
- Her hair is bright against her dark coat.
preposition
B1
relation
4
in preparation for harm
Used to say something is done to stop bad things from happening.
Usage pattern:
[action/measure] against [danger/problem]
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes omit 'against' and use 'for', which changes meaning. 'For' suggests purpose; 'against' suggests protection from danger.
Synonyms
in case of ('In case of' is similar but often used in instructions.)
Antonyms
unprepared for (Indicates no preparation or defense.)
Collocations
insurance against loss
|protection against disease
Themes
safety
|planning
|core_vocabulary
|health
Examples
- They took precautions against fire.
- She was vaccinated against measles.
- We saved money as a safeguard against future problems.
Learner examples
- I wear a coat against the cold.
- We have insurance against accidents.
- He locked the door against thieves.
Grammar
Dictionary form
against
IPA
GB/əɡˈɛnst/
US/əɡˈɛnst/
Syllables & stress
against (1 syllable)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: against
- Plural: againsts
Word family
Forms
againsts
noun
Expressions
pitch someone/something against someone/something
1/pˈɪt͡ʃ sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ əɡˈɛnst sˈoʊmˈoʊnsəmˈɛθɪŋ/
fixed phrase
make compete directly
To make two people or groups fight or compete with each other.
Examples
- The tournament will pitch the best players against each other.
- The debate pitched two strong candidates against one another.
stand up against
1/stˈænd ˈʌp əɡˈɛnst/
fixed phrase
actively resist opposition
To fight or speak out to stop someone or something that is wrong or unfair.
Examples
- We must stand up against injustice.
- She stood up against the bully at school.
up against it
1/ˈʌp əɡˈɛnst ˈɪt/
idiom
informal
facing serious difficulty
To be in a difficult situation with many problems and little chance of success.
Examples
- With no money and no job, he was really up against it.
- We're up against it with this deadline looming.
go against the grain
1/ɡˈoʊ əɡˈɛnst ðə ɡɹˈeɪn/
idiom
do something unnatural or uncomfortable
To do something that feels wrong, strange, or very different from what a person usually does or believes, or from what most people do.
Examples
- It goes against the grain for me to lie to anyone.
- It goes against the grain for her to lie, even to protect a friend.
- Helping them might go against the grain, but it's the right thing to do.
- Cutting jobs goes against the grain of everything the company stands for.
- Wasting food really goes against the grain in this household.