against
/əˈɡɛ̟nst/
Proposed by a contributor, not yet supported by evidence.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
In a contrary direction to.
Preposition
Examples
It is hard work to swim against the current.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
In physical opposition to; in collision with.
Preposition
Examples
The rain pounds against the window.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-08-01 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “against” mean?
In a contrary direction to.
Is “against” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.