Oppose definition

ə-pōz
opposed opposes opposing
See word origin
Frequency:
To be or act in contention or conflict with.

Opposed their crosstown rivals in the season finale.

verb
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To act in opposition.
verb
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4
To oppose is to disapprove of or be against something.

An example of oppose is when you do not want a new bill to pass.

verb
2
1
To set as an opposite in position.

Opposed the painting with a mirror across the room.

verb
0
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To present in counterbalance or contrast.

Ideas that were opposed to each other in her first book.

verb
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To be or act in opposition.
verb
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To attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.; to contend against; to confront; to resist; to withstand.

To oppose the king in battle; to oppose a bill in Congress.

There is still time to oppose this plan.

verb
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To object to.

Many religious leaders oppose cloning humans.

verb
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To present or set up in opposition; to pose.

They are opposed to any form of hierarchy.

verb
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To place in front of, or over against; to set opposite; to exhibit.
verb
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To compete with; to strive against.

To oppose a rival for a prize.

verb
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To be hostile or resistant to; try to prevent.

Opposes the building of a new police station.

verb
7
8
To contend with in speech or action; resist; withstand.
verb
4
5
To set against; place opposite, in balance or contrast.
verb
0
1
as opposed to
  • In contrast to:
idiom
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Idioms and Phrasal Verbs

Origin of oppose

  • Middle English opposen to question, interrogate from Old French opposer alteration (influenced by poser to place) of Latin oppōnere to oppose (ob- against ob–) (pōnere to put apo- in Indo-European roots)

    From American Heritage Dictionary of the English Language, 5th Edition

  • From Middle English opposen, from Old French opposer, from Latin ob (“before, against") + Medieval Latin pausare (“to put"), taking the place of Latin opponere (“to oppose").

    From Wiktionary

Oppose Sentence Examples

  • Stahl's chief aim was to oppose materialism.

  • You see, I don't say that we ought to oppose this and that.

  • Genoa determined to oppose the concession, and war broke out.

  • No one to oppose us.

  • She was accustomed always to oppose anything announced in that timid tone and considered it her duty to do so.

More sentences

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Words near oppose in the Dictionary