Of motion or direction: In an opposite direction to, so as to meet; toward;upon: as, to strike against a rock; the rain beats against the window: to ride against the wind.Of position: In an opposite position; directly opposite; in front of: in this sense often preceded by over: as, a ship is against the mouth of a river.In contact with; bearing upon: as, to lean against a wall; in optical contact with (something behind); athwart: as, the ship loomed up dark and grim against the sky.Of action or purpose: In opposition to; in contrariety to; adverse or hostile to: as, twenty votes against ten; against law, reason, or public opinion.In resistance to or defense from: as, protection against burglars, cold, fire, etc.; to warn one against danger; the public are cautioned against pickpockets.In provision for; in preparation for; in anticipation of; with reference to.In exchange for; in return for; as a balance to: as, an exporter draws against merchandise shipped.For the purpose of consuming time: as, he talked against time, that is, merely to gain time, a method sometimes adopted by members of legislative and deliberative assemblies who desire to defeat some measure or motion by lapse of time, or to gain time for supporters to assemble.(by ellipsis). Against the time that; by the time that; before: as, be ready against I get back.