Dictionary

oppose en · VERB

Pronunciation

• (US) audio
• /əˈpəʊz/ (Received-Pronunciation)
• /əˈpoʊz/ (General-American)

Etymology

From Middle English opposen, from Old French opposer, from Latin ob (“before, against”) + Medieval Latin pono (“to put”), taking the place of Latin opponere (“to oppose”).

Meanings

1. To attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.; to contend against.
   • I am […] too weak / To oppose your cunning. 1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act II, scene iv]:
   • to oppose the king in battle
   • There is still time to oppose this plan.
   • to oppose a bill in Congress
2. To object to.
   • Many religious leaders oppose cloning humans.
3. To present or set up in opposition; to pose.
   • They are opposed to any form of hierarchy.
   • [T]hree walls had been left standing, with large intervals between each; and they would certainly oppose a most formidable interruption to an invader. 1839, Philip Meadows Taylor, Confessions of a Thug:
   • , Book I I may […] oppose my single opinion to his.
4. 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. 1613 (date written), William Shakespeare, [John Fletcher], “The Famous History of the Life of King Henry the Eight”, in Mr. William Shakespeares Comedies, Histories, & Tragedies […] (First Folio), London: […] Isaac Iaggard, and Ed[ward] Blount, published 1623, →OCLC, [Act IV, scene i]:

Forms

Antonyms

support

Deriveds

opposably · opposable · opposal · opposeless · opposure · opposability · reoppose · opposee

Relateds

opponent · opposer · opposition · opposite

Synonyms

resist · set one's face against · make a stand against · block · fly in the face of · defy · obstruct · take issue with · be in opposition to · counter · resist · prevent · be hostile to · confront · buck · contest · check · speak out · dispute · hinder · take a stand · be against · combat · withstand · confront · face · withstand · repugn · fight · take issue with · contest · stand up to · argue · hinder · contradict · react · take on · strive against · bar · obstruct · struggle against · speak out against · counterattack · be in defiance of · thwart

Translations (91)

pl sprzeciwiać (to object to) · ta எதிர் (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · lt pasipriešinti (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · nl tegenhouden (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · uk проти́витися (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · ro opune (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · mr विरोध करणे (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · ru возрази́ть (to object to) · la oppōnō (to present or set up in opposition; to pose) · it obiettare (to object to) · cs oponovat (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · es salir al encuentro (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · pl zaoponować (to object to) · fi vastustaa (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · cy gwrthwynebu (to object to) · pl oponować (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · ta எதிர் (to object to) · mr विरोध करणे (to object to) · gl opoñer (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · ru возража́ть (to object to) · la oppōnō (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · cmn 阻止 (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · mi tāwari (to object to) · ja 反対する (to object to) · fi vastustaa (to object to) · la adversor (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · pl oponować (to object to) · la contrādīcō (to object to) · ru противостоять (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · sk oponovať (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · la refrāgor (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · es oponer (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · mi mautohe (to object to) · grc ἀνθίστημι (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · bg противопоставям се (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · eo kontraŭstari (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · ar اِعْتَرَضَ (to object to) · ro opune (to object to) · pl sprzeciwić (to object to) · ca oposar (to object to) · hu ellenez (to object to) · cmn 對抗 /对抗 (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · ca oposar (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · ru препя́тствовать (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · pl zaoponować (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · ja 阻止する (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · gl opoñer (to object to) · egy i-t:n-A24 (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · ru противопоставить (to place in front of, or over against; to set opposite; to exhibit) · vi chống đối (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · ar عَارَض (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · de ablehnen (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · cmn 反对 (to object to) · nl tegenoverstellen (to present or set up in opposition; to pose) · ru отрица́ть (to object to) · pl przeciwstawić (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · fr s'opposer à (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · uk протистоя́ти (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · lt prieštarauti (to object to) · ta எதிர் (to present or set up in opposition; to pose) · es asalir (disused) (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · uk запере́чити (to object to) · hu szembehelyezkedik (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · bg противопоставям (to place in front of, or over against; to set opposite; to exhibit) · ja 対抗する (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · ru воспрепя́тствовать (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · la intercēdō (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · it esibire (to place in front of, or over against; to set opposite; to exhibit) · vi phản đối (to object to) · pt opor (to object to) · pt opor (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · got 𐌰𐌽𐌳𐍃𐌰𐌺𐌰𐌽 (to object to) · es oponer (to object to) · te ప్రతిఘటించు (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · uk запере́чувати (to object to) · de widersprechen (to object to) · nl tegengaan (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · eo kontraŭi (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · gl opor (to object to) · bg възразявам (to object to) · it opporre (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · ru быть против (to object to) · mi mautohe (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · lt priešintis (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · gl opor (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · ja 阻む (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.) · ru противопоставить (to present or set up in opposition; to pose) · ro contrazice (to object to) · it essere contrari (to present or set up in opposition; to pose) · mr विरोधात असणे (to present or set up in opposition; to pose) · pl przeciwstawiać (to attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.)