Adjacent Words

Oppose definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

OPPO'SE, v.t. s as z. [L. oppono, opposui. The change of n into s is unusual. Two different verbs may be used, as in L. fero, tuli. See Pose.]
1. To set; against; to put in opposition, with a view to counterbalance or countervail, and thus to hinder defeat, destroy or prevent effect; as, to oppose one argument to another.
I may without presumption oppose my single opinion to his.
2. To act against; to resist, either by physical means, by arguments or other means. The army opposed the progress of the enemy, but without success. Several members of the house strenuously opposed the bill, but it passed.
3. To check; to resist effectually. The army was not able to oppose the progress of the enemy.
4. To place in front; to set opposite.
5. To act against, as a competitor.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

v
1: be against; express opposition to; "We oppose the ban on abortion"
2: fight against or resist strongly; "The senator said he would oppose the bill"; "Don't fight it!" [syn: fight, oppose, fight back, fight down, defend]
3: contrast with equal weight or force [syn: oppose, counterbalance]
4: set into opposition or rivalry; "let them match their best athletes against ours"; "pit a chess player against the Russian champion"; "He plays his two children off against each other" [syn: pit, oppose, match, play off]
5: act against or in opposition to; "She reacts negatively to everything I say" [syn: react, oppose]
6: be resistant to; "The board opposed his motion" [syn: oppose, controvert, contradict]

Merriam Webster's

transitive verb (opposed; opposing) Etymology: French opposer, from Latin opponere (perfect indicative opposui), from ob- against + ponere to place — more at ob-, position Date: 1579 1. to place over against something so as to provide resistance, counterbalance, or contrast 2. to place opposite or against something 3. to offer resistance to • opposer noun Synonyms: oppose, combat, resist, withstand mean to set oneself against someone or something. oppose can apply to any conflict, from mere objection to bitter hostility or warfare <opposed the plan>. combat stresses the forceful or urgent countering of something <combat disease>. resist implies an overt recognition of a hostile or threatening force and a positive effort to counteract or repel it <resisting temptation>. withstand suggests a more passive resistance <trying to withstand peer pressure>.

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v.tr. (often absol.) 1 set oneself against; resist, argue against. 2 be hostile to. 3 take part in a game, sport, etc., against (another competitor or team). 4 (foll. by to) place in opposition or contrast. Phrases and idioms: as opposed to in contrast with. Derivatives: opposer n. Etymology: ME f. OF opposer f. L opponere: see OPPONENT

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Oppose Op*pose", v. i. 1. To be set opposite. --Shak. 2. To act adversely or in opposition; -- with against or to; as, a servant opposed against the act. [Obs.] --Shak. 3. To make objection or opposition in controversy.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Oppose Op*pose", v. t. [imp. & p. p. Opposed; p. pr. & vb. n. Opposing.] [F. opposer. See Ob-, Pose, and cf.2d Appose, Puzzle, n. Cf.L. opponere, oppositum.] 1. To place in front of, or over against; to set opposite; to exhibit. Her grace sat down . . . In a rich chair of state; opposing freely The beauty of her person to the people. --Shak. 2. To put in opposition, with a view to counterbalance or countervail; to set against; to offer antagonistically. I may . . . oppose my single opinion to his. --Locke. 3. To resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.; to contend against; to confront; to resist; to withstand; as, to oppose the king in battle; to oppose a bill in Congress. 4. To compete with; to strive against; as, to oppose a rival for a prize. I am . . . too weak To oppose your cunning. --Shak. Syn: To combat; withstand; contradict; deny; gainsay; oppugn; contravene; check; obstruct.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(opposes, opposing, opposed) Frequency: The word is one of the 3000 most common words in English. If you oppose someone or oppose their plans or ideas, you disagree with what they want to do and try to prevent them from doing it. Mr Taylor was not bitter towards those who had opposed him... Many parents oppose bilingual education in schools. ? support VERB: V n, V n

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

v. a. 1. Resist, withstand, confront, contravene, thwart, oppugn, combat, strive against, set one's face against, make a stand against. 2. Check, withstand, prevent, obstruct. 3. Set against, put in opposition. 4. Contradict, gainsay, deny.

Moby Thesaurus

abjure, agree to differ, agree to disagree, analogize, antagonize, array, arrest, assert the contrary, assimilate, attack, balance, ban, bar, be antipathetic, be at cross-purposes, be at variance, be in dissent, be inimical, be opposed to, beat against, beg to differ, belie, blackball, block, bottle up, bring into analogy, bring into comparison, buck, bump heads, categorically reject, challenge, check, clash, collide, combat, compare, compare and contrast, compare with, complain, complain loudly, conflict, conflict with, confront, confute, contend, contend against, contend with, contest, contradict, contrapose, contraposit, contrast, contrast with, contravene, controvert, counter, counteract, counterattack, counterbalance, countercheck, counterpoise, counterpose, countervail, counterwork, cross, curb, dam up, damp, dampen, defy, delay, deny, detain, differ, disaffirm, disagree, disagree with, disallow, disapprove, disapprove of, disavow, disclaim, discord with, disfavor, disown, disprove, dispute, dissent, dissent from, divide on, draw a comparison, draw a parallel, drop out, duel, exclude, face, face down, face out, face up to, fight, foil, forswear, front, frown at, frown down, frown upon, frustrate, gainsay, go against, go counter to, grapple with, grimace at, hinder, hold back, hold in check, hold up, impede, impugn, inhibit, intercept, interfere, interfere with, intermeddle, interrupt, intervene, join issue upon, join the opposition, juxtapose in opposition, keep back, keep in check, kick against, lie opposite, liken, liken to, lock horns, look askance at, look black upon, make a stand, match, measure against, meddle, meet head-on, metaphorize, militate against, not abide, not accept, not admit, not agree, not approve, not go for, not hear of, not hold with, nullify, object, object to, obstruct, obviate, offer resistance, offset, oppugn, ostracize, parallel, pit, pit against, place against, play at cross-purposes, polarize, pose against, preclude, prevent, protest, put in opposition, recalcitrate, recant, refuse to admit, refute, reject, relate, reluct, remonstrate, renounce, repel, repress, repudiate, resist, restrain, restrict, retard, retract, revoke, revolt, run a comparison, run against, run counter to, say no to, scotch, secede, set against, set back, set in contrast, set in opposition, set off, set off against, set over against, show fight, similize, slacken, slow, snub, stand, stand at bay, stand opposed, stand opposite, stand up against, stand up to, stop, strive against, subtend, suppress, swim upstream, take back, take exception, take exception to, take issue, take issue with, think ill of, think little of, thumb down, thwart, traverse, vie, view together, view with disfavor, vote against, weigh, weigh against, withdraw, withhold assent, withstand, work against