WordGarden.iooppose
A2Pronunciation
UK
- /əpˈəʊz/
US
- /əˈpoʊz/
Meanings
Verb
to disagree with or be against something
to resist, fight against, or try to stop someone or something
to play or compete against an opposing side
Beyond the definition
Imagine two powerful magnets—if you try to push the same poles together, they oppose each other, resisting the connection. That's a good way to think about "oppose." It means to actively resist or be against something—an idea, a plan, a person, or even a law!
You might oppose a new building in your neighborhood because you worry it will cause traffic. A character in a story might oppose the villain's plan. Sometimes, people openly oppose policies they believe are unfair. It's more than just disagreeing; it usually means taking a clear stand against something. While the word itself is a verb ("I oppose this bill"), its noun form, "opposition," is often used to describe the people or force pushing back.
To oppose means to actively resist, object to, or fight against something. It's stronger than simply disliking something; it implies taking a definite stance and working against it. For example, "Citizens opposed the new tax increase" means they likely protested, signed petitions, or argued publicly against it.
"Oppose" can be used in many contexts: political debates ("The senator opposes the proposed legislation"), personal conflicts ("She opposed her brother's decision to move away"), or direct confrontation between groups, plans, or ideas. It suggests a clash of wills, ideas, or forces.
As a noun, "opposition" refers to the act of resisting or the group of people who are doing it—such as "The political opposition voiced their concerns." You might also hear about opposing viewpoints, which are different perspectives that conflict with each other.
Historically, "oppose" comes from the Latin word obponere, meaning "to place against." This origin helps explain why opposing something involves actively putting up a barrier or resistance. Whether it's a political movement, a personal disagreement, or an internal struggle, to oppose is to stand firm against something you believe is wrong, harmful, or undesirable, often to fight for what you believe in instead.
Examples
- 1
School closure
Many parents opposed the plan to close the local school.
- 2
Labor dispute
The union opposes any cuts to workers' pay.
- 3
Development plan
She opposed building a new road through the park.
- Grammaroppose + -ing action
be against that action
- 4
Moral position
He is opposed to the death penalty.
- Patternbe opposed to + idea/policy
be against it
More examplesFewer examples
- 5
Legislation
Several senators strongly opposed the bill, but it passed anyway.
- 6
Election
She opposed the mayor in the last election.
- 7
Political views
The two groups have opposing views on immigration.
- Phraseopposing views
views that are very different from each other
- 8
Communication choice
I prefer to discuss the problem in person, as opposed to over email.
- Phraseas opposed to
rather than; used to contrast two choices
See also
Forms and spellings
4 forms open this card.
Main spelling
- opposeverb
Forms
- opposedpast tenseverb
- opposing-ing formverb
- opposesverb