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   against

   /əˈɡɛnst/

   preposition

   • 1. in opposition to: "the fight against crime" Similar opposed toin opposition tohostile toaverse toantagonistic towardsinimical tounsympathetic toresistant toat odds within disagreement withcontrain defiance ofversuscounterat cross purposes withdead set againstinformal:anticonaginOpposite in favour ofpro
   • ▪ in opposition to, with reference to legal action: "the panel will investigate allegations against officials"
   • ▪ in opposition to, with reference to a sporting contest: "the championship match against Somerset"
   • 2. in anticipation of and preparation for (a problem or difficulty): "he gritted his teeth against the pain" Similar in case ofin/as provision forin preparation forin anticipation ofin expectation of
   • ▪ in resistance to; as protection from: "he turned up his collar against the wind" Similar to protect oneself fromin resistance to
   • ▪ in relation to (an amount of money owed, due, or lent) so as to reduce, cancel, or secure it: "money was advanced against the value of the property"
   • ▪ (in betting) in anticipation of the failure of: "the odds were 5–1 against England"
   • 3. in or into physical contact with (something), so as to be supported by or collide with it: "she stood with her back against the door" Similar touchingin contact withclose up toup againstabuttingonadjacent to
   • 4. in conceptual contrast to: "the benefits must be weighed against the costs"
   • ▪ in visual contrast to: "he was silhouetted against the light of the stair window" Similar in contrast toas a foil to

   Word Origin Middle English: from again + -s (adverbial genitive) + -t probably by association with superlatives (as in amongst).

   Scrabble Points: 8

   • A

     1

   • G

     2

   • A

     1

   • I

     1

   • N

     1

   • S

     1

   • T

     1

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