opponent
/əˈpəʊnənt/ (bre, ipa) · /əˈpəʊnənt/ (ame, ipa) · /ə-ˈpō-nənt/ (ame, mw)
opponent — noun
- opponentsingular
- opponentsplural
1. someone who works or speaks against an idea, law, or action because they want it
someone who works or speaks against an idea, law, or action because they want it changed or stopped.
Local opponents of the airport plan filled the town hall.
opponents of + plan
Several opponents spoke outside parliament before the vote on Friday.
The mayor met her loudest opponent after the housing protest.
When the school cut music classes, parents became strong opponents.
At the summer fair, Ken spoke as an opponent of the tax rise.
文法句型
opponent of + plan/policy/law
become/remain an opponent
leading/vocal opponent
用法筆記
Usually followed by 'of' plus the idea, law, or plan resisted. Distinguish from noun/2: this sense is about disagreement or activism, not a person facing you in a match.
常見錯誤
2. the person, team, or side you are trying to beat in a game, match, debate, or ot
the person, team, or side you are trying to beat in a game, match, debate, or other contest.
Mia studied her opponent's serves before the tennis final.
opponent's + move/serve
Our opponents scored twice in the first ten minutes.
During the debate, Chen listened carefully to his opponent.
The red team shook hands with its opponents after the match.
Lina cornered her opponent near the ropes in round three.
- rival
often suggests repeated competition over time
- competitor
broader and common in business as well as sport
- adversary
more formal and more serious in tone
- challenger
especially someone trying to beat the current leader or champion
文法句型
face an opponent
beat an opponent
opponent in a match/debate
用法筆記
Common after verbs like 'face', 'beat', 'study', or 'respect', and often paired with sport, game, or debate contexts. Distinguish from noun/1: here the focus is direct competition, not public disagreement with a policy.
常見錯誤
opponent — adjective
- opponentpositive
- more opponentcomparative
- most opponentsuperlative
1. used before a noun for the other side's ideas, groups, or forces in a conflict o
used before a noun for the other side's ideas, groups, or forces in a conflict or argument.
At dawn, soldiers saw opponent forces crossing the bridge.
before noun: opponent forces
Police kept opponent groups apart during the march downtown.
opponent groups
Two opponent camps argued over the land beside the river.
During the peace talks, each side rejected opponent demands.
- allied
joined with you on the same side
- supportive
showing approval or help rather than resistance
文法句型
opponent + view/argument/group/camp
opponent forces
用法筆記
Rare and mostly used before nouns such as 'view', 'argument', 'group', 'camp', or 'forces'. In everyday English, 'opposing' is more common; distinguish from the noun senses, which name the person or side itself.