Opponent Meaning
/əˈpəʊ.nənt/Definition, CEFR level B2, pronunciation, examples, and quiz.
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Definition
nounOne who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something.
nounOne who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something., One who opposes another physically (in a fight, sport, game, or competition).
Sentence Examples
The manager balanced the strength of his team against that of their opponent and sighed.
Mickey Conners made mincemeat of his opponent in the ring.
Synonyms & Antonyms
Synonyms:
Antonyms:
CEFR Practice Quiz
In the final match, the boxer faced a strong ____ who had never lost before.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The chess player studied every game his ____ had ever played to prepare for the championship.
Word Origin & History
Borrowed from Latin oppōnēns (“opposing”), present active participle of oppōnō (“to oppose”).
Literary Quotations & Historical Citations
"[…] he slid his right hand down to his left, and with the full swing of the weapon struck his opponent on the left side of the head, who instantly measured his length upon the green sward."
— 1819 December 20 (indicated as 1820), Walter Scott, “[HTTP://WWW.GUTENBERG.ORG/FILES/82/82-H/82-H.HTM CHAPTER 11]”, in Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volume (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […], →OCLC:
"[…] it is possible for a good [draughts] player to defeat an opponent without capturing his pieces."
— 1958, Graham Greene, Our Man in Havana, New York: Pocket Books, published 1974, Part 5, Chapter 5, p. 196:
"It is easier to confound than to convince an opponent; the former may be effected by a turn that has more happiness than truth in it."
— 1777, Hannah More, “Thoughts on Conversation”, in Essays on Various Subjects, London: J. Wilkie and T. Cadell, page 54:
"“What more have you to say?” she asked, rather in the tone in which a person might address an opponent of adult age than such as is ordinarily used to a child."
— 1847, Charlotte Brontë, chapter 4, in Jane Eyre:
"Their Oath is to maintain the Romish-Catholick Religion, and persecute all Opponents to it."
— 1652, Peter Heylin, Cosmographie, London: Henry Seile, Book 1, Part 20, p. 205:
Explore More B2 Vocabulary Words
CEFR Practice Quiz
In the final match, the boxer faced a strong ____ who had never lost before.
CEFR Practice Quiz (Alternate)
The chess player studied every game his ____ had ever played to prepare for the championship.