Somebody/Something Preposition əˈɡenst əˈɡeɪnst Fight Terrorism Playing League

• the fight against terrorism
• we're playing against the league champions next week.
• we were rowing against the current.
• that's against the law.

against

1. opposing or disagreeing with somebody/something
• the fight against terrorism
• We're playing against the league champions next week.
• We were rowing against the current.
• That's against the law.
• She was forced to marry against her will.
• Are you for or against the death penalty?
• She is against seeing (= does not want to see) him.
• I'd advise you against doing that.
2. not to the advantage or favour of somebody/something
• COMPARE for
  https://www.oxfordlearnersdictionaries.com/definition/english/for_2
• The evidence is against him.
• Her age is against her.
3. close to, touching or hitting somebody/something
• Put the piano there, against the wall.
• The rain beat against the windows.
4. in order to prevent something from happening or to reduce the damage caused by something
• an injection against rabies
• They took precautions against fire.
• Are we insured against theft?
• He gritted his teeth against the pain.
5. with something in the background, as a contrast
• His red clothes stood out clearly against the snow.
• The love story unfolds against a background of civil war.
6. used when you are comparing two things
• You must weigh the benefits against the cost.
• Check your receipts against the statement.
• What's the rate of exchange against the dollar?
7. in contrast with something
• They got 27 per cent of the vote as against 32 per cent at the last election.
8. you are unlikely to succeed because the conditions are not good for you

Word Origin

• Middle English: from again + -s (adverbial genitive) + -t probably by association with superlatives (as in amongst).