Basic Details
Word: Opposition
Part of Speech: Noun
Meaning: Strong disagreement with a plan or idea, or the people who are against it. In politics, the opposition is the parties not in government.
Synonyms: resistance, objection, hostility
Antonyms: support, agreement, cooperation
How to Spell Opposition
Syllables: op - po - si - tion
Tricky part: Two p's at the start but a single s in the middle. Students write oposition or oppossition.
Watch out for: oposition, oppossition, oppisition
Memory tip: Oppose drops its e and adds ition: oppos + ition. The double p and single s of oppose do not change.
Usage Examples
Example 1: The team faced tough opposition in the semi-final.
Example 2: There was little opposition to the idea of a longer lunch break.
Example 3: The leader of the opposition asked the minister a sharp question.
Fun Fact
In chess, opposition is the name for a position where the two kings face each other with one square between them, which matters a lot in endgames.
Practise the CREST Way
Word Connection
Choose the antonym of the word opposition as used in the sentence:
The plan to cut down the old banyan tree met strong opposition from the residents.
a) support
b) objection
c) protest
d) resistance
Show answer
a) support. If the residents gave support, they would back the plan instead of fighting it.
Word Cookie
Choose the letters that complete the word:
o_po_ition
a) p, z
b) b, s
c) p, c
d) p, s
Show answer
d) p, s. Oppose has a double p and an s, and the noun keeps them.
Mingle-Mangle
Unjumble the letters in the sentence to form a meaningful word:
The new tax faced pitoopsion from small traders across the state.
a) opposition
b) proposition
c) composition
d) position
Show answer
a) opposition. Position is two letters short, and proposition and composition need an r or a c and an m.
Multiple Choice Questions
1. In a parliament, the opposition is ____.
a) the voters
b) the ruling party
c) the speaker's chair
d) the parties not in government
Show answer
d) the parties not in government
2. A football team that meets strong opposition ____.
a) cannot play
b) wins easily
c) has no opponents
d) has to play hard to win
Show answer
d) has to play hard to win
