How to use "be opposed to"

What Does "be opposed to" Mean?

The collocation be opposed to signifies a state of disagreement, resistance, or disapproval toward a particular idea, policy, or action. It indicates that someone holds a contrary opinion or is actively against something.

While the meaning is largely compositional (derived from the adjective 'opposed' and the preposition 'to'), it functions as a fixed adjectival phrase. In terms of register, it is highly versatile; it is frequently used in formal journalism, academic writing, and political discourse, but it is also perfectly common in neutral everyday conversation.

How to Use It

The grammatical structure follows the pattern: Subject + be (conjugated) + opposed + to + Object.

Crucially, the word "to" in this expression is a preposition, not an infinitive marker. Therefore, it must be followed by a noun phrase, a pronoun, or a gerund (-ing form).

• Verb + Noun: "They are opposed to the new law."
• Verb + Pronoun: "I wouldn't be opposed to it."
• Verb + Gerund: "She is opposed to moving the headquarters."

Because "opposed" functions here as a predicative adjective, the components are not separable in the way phrasal verbs are. You cannot place the object between "opposed" and "to". Using the wrong preposition (e.g., "opposed against") or the base form of a verb (e.g., "opposed to go") will sound unnatural to native speakers.

Real-World Examples

These examples are sourced from be opposed to on Ludwig.guru.

"The business lobby continues to be opposed to the legislation." — nytimes.com

"I wouldn't be opposed to it." — theguardian.com

"Corbyn will undoubtedly be opposed to military action." — theguardian.com

""I would not be opposed to a cat tax"." — newyorker.com

"Liberals should be opposed to tyranny and genocide." — nytimes.com

Similar Phrases and Alternatives

Phrase	Context
object to	A phrasal verb that is more active and direct; often used for specific instances of protest.
be against	A more neutral and common alternative used in everyday speech.
disapprove of	Focuses on a moral or personal judgment rather than just disagreement.
be hostile to	Much stronger; implies an aggressive or very strong level of opposition.
take issue with	Formal; used when you disagree with a specific point or part of an argument.
resist	Implies taking action to prevent something from happening.

Common Mistakes

• The Gerund Trap: Learners often use the infinitive 'to do' instead of the gerund 'to doing' because they mistake the 'to' for an infinitive marker rather than a preposition. Always use a noun or -ing form after "to".
• Wrong Preposition: Using "opposed against" or "opposed from" is a common error. The adjective opposed strictly collocations with the preposition to.
• Confusing with the Verb 'Oppose': Do not confuse "I am opposed to the plan" (state) with "I oppose the plan" (action). Note that the verb "oppose" does not take the preposition "to".

Quick-Reference Summary

Expression	Meaning	Grammatical Pattern	Register
be opposed to	To disagree with or disapprove of something.	be + opposed + to + [noun/gerund]	Neutral to Formal