up against

preposition

Facing; challenging, or opposing.

“If you try to change the school schedule like that, you'll be up against legions of angry parents.”

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Meanings

preposition
  1. idiomaticFacing; challenging, or opposing.

    If you try to change the school schedule like that, you'll be up against legions of angry parents.

  2. In contact with, abutting.

    If the tree grows up against the garden wall then either the tree will be crowded and stunted or the wall will be pushed out.

Translations

Spanish a / contra qué / quién enfrentarse
  • a / contra qué / quién enfrentarsefacing; challenging, or opposing
Cite this entry
APA

up against. (n.d.). In WatkinsX Dictionary. Retrieved November 4, 2026, from https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/up%20against

MLA

“up against.” WatkinsX Dictionary, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/up%20against. Accessed November 4, 2026.

Chicago

WatkinsX Dictionary, s.v. “up against,” accessed November 4, 2026, https://dictionary.watkinsx.com/word/up%20against.

Source: up against on Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0.