oppose

See also: opposé

English

Etymology

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

Pronunciation

Verb

oppose (third-person singular simple present opposes, present participle opposing, simple past and past participle opposed)

  1. To attempt to stop the progression of; to resist or antagonize by physical means, or by arguments, etc.; to contend against; to confront; to resist; to withstand.
    to oppose the king in battle; to oppose a bill in Congress
    There is still time to oppose this plan.
  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.
    • John Locke
      I may […] oppose my single opinion to his.
    • 1839, Philip Meadows Taylor, Confessions of a Thug
      [T]hree walls had been left standing, with large intervals between each; and they would certainly oppose a most formidable interruption to an invader.
  4. To place in front of, or over against; to set opposite; to exhibit.
    • Shakespeare
      Her grace sat down […] / In a rich chair of state; opposing freely / The beauty of her person to the people.
  5. To compete with; to strive against.
    to oppose a rival for a prize
    • Shakespeare
      I am […] too weak / To oppose your cunning.

Synonyms

Antonyms

Translations

The translations below need to be checked and inserted above into the appropriate translation tables, removing any numbers. Numbers do not necessarily match those in definitions. See instructions at Wiktionary:Entry layout#Translations.

Further reading

  • oppose in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913
  • oppose in The Century Dictionary, The Century Co., New York, 1911

French

Verb

oppose

  1. first-person singular present indicative of opposer
  2. third-person singular present indicative of opposer
  3. first-person singular present subjunctive of opposer
  4. third-person singular present subjunctive of opposer
  5. second-person singular imperative of opposer

Italian

Verb

oppose

  1. third-person singular past historic of opporre
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