WordGarden.iounopposed
C2Pronunciation
UK
- /ʌnəpˈəʊzd/
US
- /ˌənəˈpoʊzd/
Meanings
Adjective
having no opponent or challenger, especially in an election, vote, or competition
allowed to proceed without resistance or objection
not objected to by the other side in court or formal procedure
Beyond the definition
Imagine a runner in a race where nobody else shows up. They would win unopposed. This means there was nobody standing against them. "Unopposed" describes a person, plan, or action that faces no challenge, no resistance, and no competition. You will often see it in elections, when a candidate has no rival, but it can also describe ideas, requests, or decisions that nobody argues against. Think of it as a clear path forward, with no one trying to stop it.
"Unopposed" describes a situation where a person, idea, plan, or action goes forward without resistance, challenge, or competition. It means nobody is standing against it.
You will often hear it in politics or elections: "The candidate ran unopposed in the primary election." In that sentence, it means no other candidate entered the race. This is one of the most common uses of the word. But it is also used more broadly. A proposal may pass unopposed if nobody objects to it. A request may be accepted unopposed if no one argues against it. A team might advance unopposed if the other side withdraws.
The word usually suggests ease because there is no conflict holding things back. Still, the main idea is not simply that something is easy. The main idea is that there is no rival, no objection, or no active resistance. That is why it fits best in situations involving people, groups, decisions, or competition.
Think again of the runner with no one else at the starting line. Or picture a proposal in a meeting that everyone accepts right away. In both cases, things move forward unopposed because no one steps in to challenge them. In short, when something is unopposed, it goes ahead without anyone trying to block, question, or compete with it.
Examples
- 1
Election result
She was elected unopposed after no one else entered the race.
- 2
Election campaign
The governor is likely to run unopposed in the next election.
- Phraserun unopposed
be the only candidate in an election
- 3
Board decision
The proposal was accepted unopposed at the board meeting.
- Phraseaccepted unopposed
approved without anyone speaking or voting against it
See also
Similar
- uncontested
- unchallenged
- unresisted
Shades of meaning
Contrast
Used with (collocations)
- run unopposed
- unopposed candidate
- unopposed motion
- pass unopposed
Word family
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Forms and spellings
1 form open this card.
Main spelling
- unopposedadjective