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against Definition

against (ə genst′; also, esp. Cdn & Brit, -gānst′)

    1. in opposition to or competition with a fight against evil
    2. contrary to against one's will
  2. toward so as to press on or strike push against the door; throw the ball against the wall
  3. in contact with a ladder leaned against the barn
  4. opposite to the course or direction of driving against the traffic
    1. in contrast with green against the gold
    2. in comparison with items checked against a list
  6. in preparation for; for the possibility of we provided against a poor crop
  7. as a debit or charge on a bill entered against our account
  8. Now Dial. next to; adjoining the house against the church

Etymology: ME ayeynst, opposite to, facing < OE ongegn, ongean (see again), with adv. gen. -es + unhistoric -t

Archaic by the time that; before

against Idioms

over against

  1. opposite to
  2. as compared with
against Synonyms

against

modif. and prep.

  1. Counter to

    in the face of, into, toward, opposite to, facing.

  2. In contact with

    on, upon, in collision with, in contact with; see next 2.

  3. Contrary to

    in opposition to, opposed to, counter to, adverse to, in violation of, versus, in contrariety to, over against.

  4. Opposite

    facing, fronting, abreast, corresponding; see opposite 3.

against Quotes

One fifth of the people are against everything all the time.

—Kennedy, Robert F(rancis)

All argument is against it; but all belief is for it.

—Johnson, Samuel known as Dr Johnson

The things people had once held against her† unconventional beauty†un-American elegance, the taste for French clothes and French foodöwere suddenly no longer liabilities but assets.

—Schlesinger, Arthur M(eier),Jr

Till now man has been up against Nature: from now on he will be up against his own nature.

—Gabor, Dennis