Againstis apreposition.
Against: reactions
We useagainstto refer to negative, hostile or opposing reactions to situations, beliefs, people, events, etc.
Againstwith verbs
Millions of peoplecampaigned againstthe war.
It’s not easyto go againstyour parents’ advice.
That refereehas something againstour team.(he doesn’t like our team)
Here are some common verbs often followed byagainst:
act | decide | guard | speak out |
advise | demonstrate | have something | struggle |
argue | discriminate | protest | testify |
be | fight | react | vote |
campaign | go | rebel |
Againstwith nouns
Discrimination againstpeople on the basis of race, age or gender is illegal.
Everyone can be part of thefight againstlitter.
The bestprotection againstillness is a good diet and lots of exercise.
Here are some common nouns often followed byagainst:
accusation | campaign | discrimination | protest |
action | case | evidence | reaction |
aggression | charge | fight | rebellion |
appeal | complaint | law | |
argument | defence | prejudice | |
battle | demonstration | protection |
Against: physical contact
We often useagainstto talk about physical contact between two or more things:
She was leaningagainstthe wall reading a book.(there was contact between her and the wall)
The bed wasagainstthe wardrobe.(there was contact between the bed and the wardrobe)
Against: competition
We often useagainstwith verbs and nouns connected with sport and competitions, such ascompete/competition, final, game, match, play, semi-final:
Japan competedagainstGermany in the semi-final.
England’s matchagainstJamaica was cancelled.
When we don’t useagainst
We useabout, notagainst, to refer to taking action to solve problems:
A:Did you enjoy last night?
B:We enjoyed the food but the people at the table next to us were so loud that we couldn’t hear each other. We asked the waiter to do somethingaboutit but he said that he couldn’t.
Not:We asked the waiter to do something against it
To make contrasts we use phrases such ascontrary to,in contrast toandcompared with, notagainst:
My opinion iscontrary toyours.
Not:My opinion is against yours.
We don’t useagainstto talk about medication:
Have you got somethingfora headache?
Not: …something against a headache
Against: typical error
We useagainst, notwith, in sport when two teams or individuals compete:
All my family play tennis and sometimes we playagainsteach other in competitions.
Not: …we play with each other…