What does "opponent" mean?

1. (competitor in a game) someone you play against in a sport or game. 2. (political or ideological rival) someone who disagrees with a plan, an idea, or a political leader.

How do you use "opponent"?

Often used with the preposition 'of' or as a direct object in competitive contexts. Commonly followed by 'of' when referring to a specific policy or idea.

opponent

US //əˈpoʊnənt// UK //əpˈəʊnənt// op·po·nent

1 competitor in a game (n.)
B1 Intermediate Sport

someone you play against in a sport or game.

a person or team that competes against another in a sporting contest or game.

Example

He shook hands with his opponent after the tennis match ended.

Example

The grandmaster spent hours studying his opponent's previous matches to identify a weakness in her defensive strategy.

Usage

Often used with the preposition 'of' or as a direct object in competitive contexts.
2 political or ideological rival (n.)
B2 Upper Intermediate

someone who disagrees with a plan, an idea, or a political leader.

a person who disagrees with or resists a proposal, policy, or political figure.

Example

The senator's political opponents criticized her new tax plan.

Example

Leading opponents of the proposed highway argued that the environmental impact would be devastating for the local bird population.

Usage

Commonly followed by 'of' when referring to a specific policy or idea.
- critic
- dissenter
- adversary