against
against — conjunction
1. used to introduce a clause about a future situation that you are getting ready f
used to introduce a clause about a future situation that you are getting ready for, so you will have what you need by then.
Mei stocked the cellar with rice and oil against the time when winter storms cut off the village.
against the time when + clause for future preparation
The old farmer saved every coin against the day when his eldest son would marry.
against the day when + clause variant
Nurses kept extra blankets in the closet against when the heating system might fail.
against + when-clause without 'the time'
Captain Ortega trained the new crew hard against the moment when real danger came.
formal register: preparation for a future event
Mrs. Lin tucked dried herbs into a jar against the winter when colds spread through the school.
- against the time when
- against the day when
- against the moment when
- save/store/keep something against
- in case
much more common in speech; introduces a possible future need rather than an expected one
- in preparation for
preposition rather than conjunction; takes a noun phrase, not a clause
- for when
informal everyday equivalent: 'I'm saving this for when the kids visit.'
Grammar Patterns
against the time when + clause
against + when-clause
Usage Note
Almost always followed by 'the time/day/moment + when' or by a bare 'when'-clause. Sounds formal or literary; in everyday speech, 'for' or 'in case' is more natural.
Common Mistakes
against — preposition
1. in a position where one thing is pressed onto another thing or held up by it, so
in a position where one thing is pressed onto another thing or held up by it, so the two surfaces are in contact.
Imani leaned the wooden ladder against the side of the garage.
lean + against + [vertical surface]
The cat curled up against Grandpa's warm leg on the sofa.
physical contact for support or comfort
Wen pressed his ear against the bedroom door to listen.
press + body part + against + [object]
Heavy rain beat against the kitchen windows all night.
beat/hit/knock + against (forceful contact)
Mia rested the new bicycle against the brick wall.
rest + against (leaning for support)
- lean against
- press against
- rest against
- knock against
- beat against
Grammar Patterns
lean/press/rest + against + [surface]
Usage Note
Subject is often a person or movable object; the noun after 'against' is usually a flat or vertical surface (wall, door, tree, body). Often used with verbs of contact: lean, press, rest, push, knock, beat.
Common Mistakes
2. with one thing shown in front of a different thing behind it; also used when jud
with one thing shown in front of a different thing behind it; also used when judging or measuring one thing by setting it next to another.
The white sailboat looked beautiful against the dark blue sea.
visual figure against background
Mira photographed the cherry blossoms against a bright morning sky.
[subject of photo] + against + [background]
Mr. Patel weighed the cost of solar panels against the rising electricity bills last winter.
weigh X against Y (compare)
The bakery's holiday sales look strong against last December's poor numbers in the same shop.
compare current data against earlier data
Wairimu checked his answers against the teacher's key after class.
check X against Y (compare for accuracy)
- weigh against
- check against
- measure against
- compare against
- stand out against
- compared with
for the comparison sense; more neutral and explicit
- in contrast to
for the visual or comparison sense; more formal
Grammar Patterns
[figure] + against + [background]
Usage Note
Two related uses: (a) visual — a figure shown in front of a background; (b) comparison — judging one thing by setting it next to another. Common with 'weigh', 'check', 'measure', 'compare'.
Common Mistakes
3. not supporting a plan, idea, or action — wanting to stop it or to defeat the peo
not supporting a plan, idea, or action — wanting to stop it or to defeat the people who want it; also used for two sides competing in a game or contest.
Most parents at the meeting were against closing the small library.
be + against + [noun/-ing] (oppose a plan)
Thousands marched through Berlin to protest against the new tax.
protest against + [policy]
Brazil will play against Japan in tomorrow's final match.
[team] play against [team] (sports contest)
Two senators voted against the bill on Tuesday morning.
vote against + [proposal]
The lawyer fought hard against the unfair charges in court.
fight against + [accusation/injustice]
- vote against
- argue against
- protest against
- campaign against
- fight against
- play against
- opposed to
more formal; often follows 'be', as in 'be opposed to'
- anti-
prefix for nouns/adjectives (anti-war, anti-tax); not a preposition
- for
the natural opposite when expressing support
- in favour of
more formal opposite, often in voting or debate
Grammar Patterns
be against + [noun/-ing]
vote/argue/fight/protest + against + [thing]
Usage Note
Distinguish from sense 4 (against the law / rules): sense 3 expresses a person's opposition; sense 4 describes a fact about legality. Often appears with verbs of conflict: vote, argue, protest, fight, campaign, play, compete.
Common Mistakes
4. not allowed by a law, rule, or official policy — so doing it would break that ru
not allowed by a law, rule, or official policy — so doing it would break that rule.
Officer Brennan reminded the boys that riding bicycles on this narrow footpath is against the law.
be + against + the law (illegal)
Eating in the library is against school rules, Wairimu.
be + against + [rules/policy]
Smoking inside the hospital is strictly against hospital policy.
strictly against + [official policy]
The lawyer warned the witness that lying to Judge Alvarez was against the rules of the court.
against the rules of + [institution]
- against the law
- against the rules
- against company policy
- against regulations
- against the constitution
- in violation of
very formal; common in legal or official writing
- contrary to
formal; often used with policy, rules, instructions
- in line with
matches a rule or policy
- in accordance with
formal; following a rule exactly
Grammar Patterns
against + the law/rules/regulations/policy
Usage Note
Subject is the action itself (often an -ing form or 'it'); the noun after 'against' names the rule or law. Common nouns: the law, the rules, school/company policy, regulations.
Common Mistakes
5. used after 'have something / anything / nothing' to talk about a private reason
used after 'have something / anything / nothing' to talk about a private reason for disliking, blaming, or distrusting a person.
I have nothing against Wen — I just don't want to share an office.
have nothing against + [person] (no personal dislike)
Does the manager have something against young women on the team?
have something against + [group] (hidden bias)
Mira clearly has something against her new neighbour, but won't say what.
have something against + [person] (private grudge)
Grandma snapped at Uncle Ray, "What have you got against my brother since the wedding, exactly?"
informal: have got + against + [person]
- have something against
- have anything against
- have nothing against
- have a grudge against
- hold a grudge against
stronger; long-lasting bitterness for a remembered wrong
- have a problem with
more conversational; often used for present friction
Grammar Patterns
have something/anything/nothing + against + [person]
Usage Note
Almost always preceded by 'have' + 'something / anything / nothing'. The thing held against the person is usually unstated or vague — the focus is on whether a private reason exists, not what it is. Distinguish from sense 6, which states the absence of such a reason.
Common Mistakes
6. used in 'have nothing against' to say you do not personally dislike a person or
used in 'have nothing against' to say you do not personally dislike a person or thing, even when you are about to criticize them or refuse what they want.
I have nothing against jazz, but I prefer quiet music while I work.
have nothing against + [thing] (softens criticism)
Dr. Dilnoza has nothing against pets, yet her clinic stays animal-free.
softener before stating a refusal
Look, I've got nothing against your friends; I just need an early night.
informal 'have got' + softener before a 'but'
Aiko has nothing against the new manager personally — only against his methods.
have nothing against [person] + 'only against' (target the issue, not the person)
- have nothing against
- nothing against you personally
- nothing against the idea
- not have a problem with
very similar; slightly more conversational
- bear no ill will toward
much more formal; rare in everyday speech
- have something against
the direct opposite (sense 5)
Grammar Patterns
have nothing against + [person/thing]
Usage Note
A polite softener: speakers use it to make clear that an upcoming criticism or refusal is not based on personal dislike. Frequently followed by 'but', 'yet', or 'just'. Distinguish from sense 5: sense 5 questions or affirms the existence of a private dislike; sense 6 specifically denies it.
Common Mistakes
7. used to say that a fact, situation, or quality puts someone in a worse position
used to say that a fact, situation, or quality puts someone in a worse position when others are judging them or deciding their future.
Wairimu worried that her lack of a degree would count against her at the interview.
count + against + [person] for disadvantage in selection
The heavy rain on Saturday worked against the small farmers in the valley.
work + against + [group] when conditions cause harm
Her young age went against her when the company chose a new manager.
go + against for being judged unfavourably
Two late goals went against Brazil in the final ten minutes of the match.
Living two hours from the office really counts against any candidate applying for this night-shift job.
- count against
- go against
- work against
- weigh against
- to the disadvantage of
more formal phrasing with the same meaning
- to one's detriment
formal; often used in writing or legal contexts
- in favour of
puts the person in a better position
Grammar Patterns
count/go/work + against + [person/thing]
Usage Note
Subject is usually a fact or condition (age, distance, evidence), not a person acting on purpose. Distinguish from sense 3 (active disagreement): here nobody is choosing to oppose you — the situation simply puts you at a disadvantage.
Common Mistakes
8. moving toward something that is moving or pushing the opposite way, so that the
moving toward something that is moving or pushing the opposite way, so that the two forces meet head-on.
Mira cycled home against a strong wind and arrived twenty minutes late.
against + the wind for movement into oncoming force
The salmon swim against the current to reach the river where they were born.
against + the current for fish or swimmers
Rowing against the tide, the small fishing boat barely moved away from the shore.
Snowflakes drifted sideways against the headlights of Mr. Chen's old taxi.
The runners pushed forward against a cold breeze blowing off the harbour.
- against the wind
- against the current
- against the tide
- against the flow
- into
as in 'walk into the wind'; very similar but plainer
- counter to
more formal; common in writing about forces or trends
- with
moving in the same direction as the force, e.g. 'sail with the wind'
Grammar Patterns
against + the + [wind / current / tide / flow]
Usage Note
Almost always followed by a noun for a moving force: wind, current, tide, flow. Often appears in the figurative phrase 'against the tide' meaning to act differently from most people.
Common Mistakes
9. used to show what a person, action, or thing is meant to keep you safe from, by
used to show what a person, action, or thing is meant to keep you safe from, by stopping it or making the harm smaller.
Dr. Dilnoza gave the children a vaccine against measles before the school trip.
vaccine + against + [disease]
Sunscreen protects your skin against painful sunburn at the beach.
protect + against + [harm] for active prevention
The Watanabe family bought insurance against floods after the storm last summer.
insurance + against + [risk]
Thick stone walls offer good protection against the cold winter winds.
Lawyers warn drivers against signing any forms at the scene of an accident.
- protect against
- guard against
- insure against
- defend against
- warn against
- from
common after 'protect' and 'safe'; almost interchangeable here
Grammar Patterns
[noun: vaccine / insurance / law] + against + [danger]
protect / guard / insure + against + [danger]
Usage Note
The object after 'against' is the unwanted thing (disease, risk, weather), not the person being protected. Common with nouns and verbs of safety: vaccine, insurance, defence, protect, guard, warn, insure.
Common Mistakes
as against something
idiomUsed to compare two things and show the difference between them.
This year's sales increased by 10% as against last year's 5%.
The team won 3 games as against 5 losses this season.
You have little chance of success because the situation is very difficult.
Maya knew the odds were stacked against her, but she tried anyway.
With no experience and little money, the cards were stacked against Diego.
Word family
- againadverbA1
- gainsayverbC2
Synonym discussion
Sense: preposition/3
All four words signal disagreement with a plan, idea, or group, but they differ in grammar, register, and force. 'Against' is the everyday workhorse and the most flexible: it follows 'be', combines with verbs of conflict (vote, argue, protest, fight), and works in both speech and writing. 'Opposed to' is more formal and almost always sits after 'be' — 'The committee is opposed to the merger' sounds like a written report, while 'The committee is against the merger' sounds like a meeting. 'Anti-' is a prefix, not a preposition, so it attaches directly to a noun (anti-war protest, anti-tax campaign) and labels a stance rather than describing one. 'Opposing' is a participle used as a modifier ('the opposing team', 'opposing views') and cannot replace 'against' after a verb. Quick test: you can say 'I voted against it' but not 'I voted opposed to it' or 'I voted anti it'.
Common collocations
Nouns
- against the law
- against the rules
- against the wind
- against the tide
- against the clock
Adverbs
- strongly against
- firmly against
- dead against
- strictly against
Phrases
- vote against
- argue against
- protect against
- guard against
- warn against
- weigh against
- have something against
Etymology
From Old English 'ongēan', meaning 'in the opposite direction' or 'facing toward', formed from 'on' (on, toward) + 'gēan' (against, opposite). In Middle English this became 'agains', and the final '-t' was added later by analogy with words like 'amongst' and 'whilst', giving the modern form 'against' by the 16th century. The base idea of 'facing the opposite way' explains why one word now covers physical contact (leaning against a wall), opposition (voting against a plan), comparison (set against a background), and protection (a vaccine against measles) — all imply two things meeting from opposite sides. The closely related adverb 'again' shares the same root, originally meaning 'in return' or 'back toward'.