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oppose to
/əˈpoʊz tuː/◆phrasal verb
disagree with or resist
Many people oppose to the new policy.
Many people disagree with or resist the new policy.
formal
to disagree with or resist something; to be against a proposal or action
The senator opposed to the bill without providing clear reasons.
The senator was against the bill without giving clear reasons.
She strongly opposed to the idea of moving to a new city.
She strongly disagreed with the idea of relocating.
Commonly used in formal contexts such as debates, laws, or policies. Often followed by a noun or gerund (-ing form).
Collocations
strongly oppose toto have a very firm disagreement withpublicly oppose toto express disagreement openlyoppose to the idea ofto disagree with a specific proposal or concept
Antonyms
Related Phrases
Pro Tip
Avoid 'oppose to' in formal writing
In academic, legal, or professional contexts, use 'oppose' alone (e.g., 'The committee opposed the proposal') or 'object to' (e.g., 'Many citizens objected to the new law'). 'Oppose to' is generally considered incorrect in these settings.
Gold Rule
Correct usage of 'oppose'
Use 'oppose' as a transitive verb without 'to' when expressing direct opposition (e.g., 'They oppose the decision'). Use 'oppose to' only in informal contexts or dialects, and prefer alternatives like 'object to' or 'be against' for clarity.
Word Origin
From Old French 'opposer' (to set against), from Latin 'opponere' (to set against, oppose), from 'ob-' (against) + 'ponere' (to place). The phrase 'oppose to' emerged in Middle English as a phrasal verb combining the verb 'oppose' with the preposition 'to'.
Usage Notes
In modern English, 'oppose to' is often considered non-standard or incorrect. The correct phrasal verb is simply 'oppose' (without 'to') when used transitively (e.g., 'oppose the policy'). However, 'oppose to' is frequently used in informal speech and some dialects, particularly in American English. For formal writing, prefer 'oppose' alone or 'object to'.
Word Breakdown
oppose
to be against or resist
verbto
preposition indicating direction or relationship
prepositionEnglish Dictionary