against
against
Pronunciation
against
/əˈɡɛnst/ or /əˈɡeɪnst/
Syllable Breakdown:
a-: /ə/ (schwa sound, as in "uh")
gainst: /ɡɛnst/ or /ɡeɪnst/ (as in "genst" or "gaynst")
Word Form Variations
The word "against" is primarily a preposition. As such, it generally does not have variations for singular/plural, tense, or comparative/superlative forms in the same way that nouns, verbs, and adjectives do.
While it is almost exclusively used as a preposition, in very rare and archaic or specialized contexts, it might be encountered in ways that blur the lines with adverbs or conjunctions, but these are not common variations in modern English.
Definitions, Synonyms and Antonyms
Preposition
Definition 1: In opposition to; contrary to the interest, welfare, or desires of someone or something.
Synonyms: contrary to, opposed to, hostile to, in defiance of
Antonyms: for, in favor of, supporting, on the side of
Definition 2: In contact with; touching or striking.
Synonyms: touching, abutting, beside, upon
Antonyms: away from, separated from
Definition 3: In preparation for or in anticipation of (something difficult or undesirable).
Synonyms: in preparation for, in anticipation of, in readiness for
Antonyms: unprepared for, without provision for
Definition 4: In comparison with; set off by contrast to.
Synonyms: compared to, contrasted with, in relation to
Antonyms: (No direct antonyms, as this usage describes a relationship rather than an opposition)
Definition 5: As a protection from; as a defense from.
Synonyms: from, preventing, resisting
Antonyms: allowing, exposed to, vulnerable to
Examples of Use
Books: "The creatures had long since learned that they were powerless against the relentless tide of human expansion." (From The Water Knife by Paolo Bacigalupi, May 2015)
Newspapers: "The mayor spoke out strongly against the proposed budget cuts, arguing they would harm essential city services." (The New York Times)
Online Publications: "Scientists are racing against time to develop new vaccines for emerging pathogens." (NPR.org)
Various Entertainment Mediums and Platforms:
Film: "It's always darkest before the dawn, and we must stand united against the coming storm." (From a film trailer for "Dune: Part Two," November 2023)
Television: "The prosecutor presented a compelling case against the defendant, leading to a guilty verdict." (A line from "Law & Order: SVU," March 2024)
Music: "I've built my walls so high, a fortress against the pain." (Lyrics from the song "Against the Wind" by Bob Seger, 1980)
Video Games: "Your mission is to defend the ancient relic against waves of invading enemies." (In-game text from "Elden Ring," February 2022)
General Public Discourse:
"Many people are protesting against the new housing development, citing environmental concerns." (Heard in a local community meeting)
"I'm really against putting pineapple on pizza." (A common opinion shared in casual conversation, ongoing)
"The team fought hard against all odds to win the championship." (A sports commentator's remark)
10 Quotes Using Against
"When everything seems to be going against you, remember that the airplane takes off against the wind, not with it." (Henry Ford)
"Do not go gentle into that good night, / Rage, rage against the dying of the light." (Dylan Thomas)
"The best argument against democracy is a five-minute conversation with the average voter." (Winston Churchill)
"Each time a man stands up for an ideal, or acts to improve the lot of others, or strikes out against injustice, he sends forth a tiny ripple of hope." (Robert F. Kennedy)
"Your task is not to seek for love, but merely to seek and find all the barriers within yourself that you have built against it." (Rumi)
"He who passively accepts evil is as much involved in it as he who helps to perpetrate it. He who accepts evil without protesting against it is really cooperating with it." (Martin Luther King, Jr.)
"I'm against picketing, but I don't know how to show it." (Mitch Hedberg)
"When a true genius appears, you can know him by this sign: that all the dunces are in a confederacy against him." (Jonathan Swift)
"Rebellion against tyrants is obedience to God." (Benjamin Franklin)
"The greatest weapon against stress is our ability to choose one thought over another." (William James)
Etymology
The word "against" has a long and interesting history, tracing its roots back to Old English.
It comes from the Old English word "ongean" or "agan," which originally meant something like "toward," "opposite," or "in exchange for." Think of it as a sense of "lined up facing" something. This "ongean" word was actually a combination of "on" (as in, "on" something) and "-gegn," a part that meant "against" or "toward."
Over time, in Middle English, "ongean" evolved into "ayenes" or "agenes." You can see how this is getting closer to our modern "against." The "s" at the end was an old grammatical ending (called an adverbial genitive), which just meant "in the manner of" or "of."
The "t" at the end of "against" (as opposed to just "again") showed up later, around the 14th to 16th centuries. It's not entirely clear why it appeared, but it's thought to have been added because of how other words ending in "-st" sounded, especially those like "amidst" or "amongst."
So, the first known uses of "against" (or its earlier forms) in English, as far back as the Old English period (before 1150), carried meanings like "in opposition to," "in front of," or "in contact with." It was used to describe being directly opposite something, whether physically or in terms of disagreement. The meaning of "in opposition to" or "contrary to" has been a core part of the word from its very early days.
Phrases + Idioms Containing Against
Against all odds: Despite very unfavorable circumstances.
Against the clock: Rushing to complete something before a deadline.
Against the grain: Contrary to the usual or expected way of doing things.
Go against the tide/current: To do or say something that is unpopular or goes against popular opinion.
Up against it: Facing difficult problems or challenges.
Lean against: To rest one's weight on something.
Come up against: To encounter or be faced with (a problem or difficulty).
Hold it against someone: To resent someone for something they have done.
Have something against someone/something: To dislike or oppose someone or something.
Pitted against: To be in competition or conflict with.
Vocabulary-Based Stories from SEA
Source Information
Definition of against from The Academic Glossary at Self Exploration Academy, a Urikville Press Publication. © All rights reserved.
