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HOW TO PRONOUNCE

against

/əˈɡɛnst/

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American Pronunciation Guide · 0:47
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What does against mean?

preposition

  1. In a contrary direction to.
  2. In physical opposition to; in collision with.
  3. In physical contact with, so as to abut or be supported by.
More meanings (15)

preposition

  1. Close to, alongside.
  2. In front of; before (a background).
  3. In contrast or comparison with.
  4. In competition with, versus.
  5. Contrary to; in conflict with.
  6. In opposition to.
  7. Of betting odds, denoting a worse-than-even chance.
  8. In exchange for.
  9. As counterbalance to.
  10. As a charge on.
  11. As protection from.
  12. In anticipation of; in preparation for (a particular time, event etc.).
  13. To be paid now in contrast to the following amount to be paid later under specified circumstances, usually that a movie is made or has started filming.
  14. (obsolete) Exposed to.

conjunction

  1. (obsolete) By the time that (something happened); before.

Definitions regrouped for readability · CC BY-SA 4.0

IPA pronunciation

/əˈɡɛnst/

Wiktionary contributors · CC BY-SA 4.0

Pronunciation varies by speaker and region. About these dictionary pronunciations.

In the pages of books

See this word in context.

The economy has presented a picture of moderate but slowing growth against a background of underlying weaknesses in technology and worker motivation.
United States. Central Intelligence AgencyThe 1990 CIA World FactbookProject Gutenberg ebook #14
Secretly Wendy sympathised with them a little, but she was far too loyal a housewife to listen to any complaints against father.
J. M. (James Matthew) BarriePeter Pan : $b [Peter and Wendy]Project Gutenberg ebook #16
More book examples (3)
And because of the strictness of the word of God, which cometh down against you, many hearts died, pierced with deep wounds.
Joseph, Jr. Smith; Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day SaintsThe Book of Mormon : $b an account written by the hand of Mormon, upon plates taken from the plates of NephiProject Gutenberg ebook #17
It is a signal advantage of taxes on articles of consumption, that they contain in their own nature a security against excess.
Alexander Hamilton; John Jay; James MadisonThe Federalist PapersProject Gutenberg ebook #18
As the weeks went by and she heard nothing from him, it seemed to Alexandra that her heart grew hard against Carl.
Willa CatherO Pioneers!Project Gutenberg ebook #24