oppose

verb

Sayuh-POHZ/əˈpoʊz/UK/əˈpəʊz/

Formsopposes, opposing, opposed

4 meanings of oppose

1
verbtransitive
To try to stop something or to fight against it.
Like pushing back on a door when someone tries to push it open from the other side.
Doctors oppose the spread of the disease with vaccines and clean water.
The small army opposed the invaders for three weeks.
Similarresist, confront, obstruct, hinder, withstand
Oppositesupport, back
Note
2
verbtransitive
To say that you do not agree with something.
I oppose the idea of longer school days.
She opposed the plan at the town meeting last night.
Similarcontest, argue
Oppositesupport, favor, endorse, back
3
verbtransitive
To put one idea or thing up against another to show how they are different.
The writer opposes city life to life on a farm.
You can oppose a dark color to a light one to make a picture stronger.
Similarcontrast, juxtapose
Note
4
verbtransitive
To put something directly in front of another thing, so the two face each other.
You can oppose a mirror to a window to bring more light into a room.
She opposed her hand to the lamp to block the bright light.
Note

Practice

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Origin

From Latin: 'ob' meaning 'against' plus 'pono' meaning 'to put'. It came into English through Old French 'opposer'.