Words / B1

uh-GENST/əˈɡenst/

Against often means opposing: vote against, be against the plan, fight against poverty. For is the pair. It also means in contact with a surface: lean against the wall. Against the law / the rules is a set phrase. Versus (vs) is for matches and scores; against is the everyday preposition.

Meaning

Opposing someone or something, or in contact with a surface.

Examples

• “The vote was 10 against 2.”
• “Most staff were against working on Sunday.”
• “He rested the ladder against the wall.”

Good to know

be / vote against. against the law. lean against + surface. Pair: for.

Near in meaning

versus

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