against
333
1.0
- adposition
- /əˈɡɛnst/
- And then we balance it against the, the, the costs.
- compare against
- measure against
- against the backdrop
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Watch on YouTubeThe bright snow is startling against the deep blue sky.
- The bright snow is startling against the deep blue sky.
- But this is the background against which Uno Muno is writing.
- They're not checking their ideas against what the broader world looks like.
- We're trying to put like Willie Nelson against Snoop Dogg and things like that.
Examples
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More recently, every smartphone is matched against the form and function of the iPhone.
Academic text (2011) -
Historic data series against which model output was compared are given in Table 1.
Academic text (2011) -
NIH program staff members examine application priority scores and consider these against the IC's needs.
Academic text (2011) -
How well do the Dilnot commission's proposals measure up against key reform objectives, asks Jeremy Dunning?
Academic text (2011) -
The performance of our team was impressive when measured against that of our competitors.
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We need to evaluate the new policy against the needs of the community.
-
Her talents really shine when put against the backdrop of such prestigious artists.
Synonyms
588
2.3
To say that two people, teams, or ideas are against each other
8
7.4
A word showing disagreement with something, often in formal writing
1
7.1
About or compared with
Idioms
- Informal
11
4.5
A situation where people must finish something quickly before it is too late
- Informal
9
7.4
To do something very different from what most people expect or usually do
- Archaic
1
9.9
To resist authority in a way that is useless and makes things worse
Carefully compare the good and bad points before you decide
To try many times to do something without success and feel frustrated
Trying very hard even when facing a much stronger opponent
To move forward despite strong opposition or many difficulties
- Informal
To try to make something happen when it is already easy or people already agree
Compounds
32
7.7
Very serious crimes that harm many people, for example murder, slavery or torture
- Specialized
1
8.5
The right to refuse to answer questions that could make you look guilty in court
- Formal
1
8.0
Rules that stop people at work from having close personal or romantic relationships
A terrorist group started by Osama bin Laden in 1998 to unite armed Islamist groups in different countries
A South African group formed in 1996 to fight gangs and drugs, later accused of violent acts and extremism
Surface Forms
Etymology
Against comes from old parts on- and gegn, meaning 'on the opposite side'. That idea of being side by side or opposite led to the use of against to mean 'compared with', as when you put two things next to each other to judge them.