# go against

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/go-against
Updated: 2026-08-08

## Senses

### 1. to oppose or resist

phrasal verb · CEFR B1

to oppose someone or something, or to fight against a decision.

For teachers: to actively oppose, resist, or challenge a person, group, or established authority.

- It is difficult to go against the wishes of your entire family.
- The junior senator decided to go against his party's leadership by voting against the controversial new tax bill.

Usage: This is an inseparable phrasal verb; the object must follow the particle 'against'.

### 2. to contradict a rule or principle

phrasal verb · CEFR B2

to be the opposite of what a rule, law, or feeling says is right.

For teachers: to be contrary to or in violation of a specific principle, law, trend, or natural instinct.

- Telling a lie goes against my principles.
- The company's decision to dump waste in the river goes against every environmental regulation currently in place.

### 3. to have an unfavourable result

phrasal verb · CEFR C1 · Formal

when a formal decision, like a court case, is not in your favour.

For teachers: to result in an unfavourable outcome for a specific party, typically in a legal or competitive context.

- We were disappointed when the judge's final decision went against us.
- Legal experts suggest that if the ruling goes against the corporation, they may be forced to declare bankruptcy immediately.

Usage: Usually takes a person or party as the object.

## Examples

- I don't want to go against my parents' wishes.
- The judge's final decision went against everything the lawyers had argued during the trial.
- The proposed expansion of the factory goes against the local council's long-term commitment to environmental preservation and sustainable development.

## Usage notes

- Teaching tip: contrast with 'contradict' for ideas and 'disobey' for rules; 'go against' is a versatile, high-frequency alternative that covers both.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.