oppose

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”).

• (Received Pronunciation) IPA^(key): /əˈpəʊz/
• (General American) IPA^(key): /əˈpoʊz/

• Audio (US)

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• Rhymes: -əʊz
• Hyphenation: op‧pose

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.

   • Shakespeare

     I am […] too weak / To oppose your cunning.

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.

• (to attempt to stop the progression of): withstand, resist, hinder, obstruct, buck
• (to oppose in speech): take issue with, speak out against, contest, repugn, argue (against)
• be against, fight (against), check, bar, block, prevent, take on, counter, contest, resist, confront, face, combat, defy, thwart, contradict, withstand, stand up to, hinder, struggle against, obstruct, fly in the face of, take issue with, be hostile to, counterattack, speak out against, be in opposition to, be in defiance of, strive against, set one's face against, take a stand, make a stand against

• support

• opponent
• opposer
• opposite
• opposition

• oppose in Webster’s Revised Unabridged Dictionary, G. & C. Merriam, 1913.
• oppose in The Century Dictionary, New York, N.Y.: The Century Co., 1911.
• oppose at OneLook Dictionary Search

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

oppose

1. third-person singular past historic of opporre