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Webster 1913 Edition

Oppose

Op-pose′

,
Verb.
T.
[
imp. & p. p.
Opposed
;
p. pr. & vb. n.
Opposing
.]
[F.
opposer
. See
Ob-
,
Pose
, and cf.2d
Appose
,
Puzzle
,
Noun.
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.
Shakespeare
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.
Shakespeare
Syn. – To combat; withstand; contradict; deny; gainsay; oppugn; contravene; check; obstruct.

Op-pose′

(ŏp-pōz′)
,
Verb.
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 1828 Edition

Oppose

OPPO'SE

,
Verb.
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.

Definition 2024

oppose

oppose

See also: opposé

English

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

Related terms

Translations

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

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

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