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Definition of oppose verb from the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary

oppose

verb
 
/əˈpəʊz/
 
/əˈpəʊz/
Verb Forms
present simple I / you / we / they oppose
 
/əˈpəʊz/
 
/əˈpəʊz/
he / she / it opposes
 
/əˈpəʊzɪz/
 
/əˈpəʊzɪz/
past simple opposed
 
/əˈpəʊzd/
 
/əˈpəʊzd/
past participle opposed
 
/əˈpəʊzd/
 
/əˈpəʊzd/
-ing form opposing
 
/əˈpəʊzɪŋ/
 
/əˈpəʊzɪŋ/
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  1. to disagree strongly with somebody’s plan, policy, etc. and try to change it or prevent it from succeeding
    • oppose somebody/something This party would bitterly oppose the re-introduction of the death penalty.
    • He threw all those that opposed him into prison.
    • to oppose a war/bill/plan
    • Do you support or oppose this proposal?
    • The children strongly opposed the idea.
    • He vehemently opposed the War of 1812.
    • She is adamantly opposed to the war.
    • oppose doing something I would oppose changing the law.
    • oppose somebody/something doing something Her father opposed her becoming a missionary.
    compare propose
    Extra Examples
    • The ban was initially opposed by the US.
    • The minister has consistently opposed any relaxation in the law.
    • We totally oppose the use of gas to kill any animal.
    • We would vigorously oppose such a policy.
    • He found himself opposed by his own deputy.
    Topics Opinion and argumentb2
    Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb
    • adamantly
    • bitterly
    • fiercely
    verb + oppose
    • vote to
    • continue to
    See full entry
  2. oppose somebody to compete with somebody in a contest
    • He intends to oppose the prime minister in the leadership election.
  3. Word Originlate Middle English: from Old French opposer, from Latin opponere (from ob- ‘against’ + ponere ‘place’), but influenced by Latin oppositus ‘set or placed against’ and Old French poser ‘to place’.
See oppose in the Oxford Advanced American DictionarySee oppose in the Oxford Learner's Dictionary of Academic English
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adjective
 
 
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