Definition of "opponent"

One who opposes another; one who works or takes a position against someone or something; one who attempts to stop the progress of someone or something.

1. One who opposes another physically (in a fight, sport, game, or competition).  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • In the Chariot-Race Achilles is represented as being able to conquer every Opponent […]

     1720, Alexander Pope, The Iliad of Homer, London: Bernard Lintott, Volume 6, “Observations on the Twenty-Third Book,” no. 39, p. 136

   • […] he slid his right hand down to his left, and with the full swing of the weapon struck his opponent on the left side of the head, who instantly measured his length upon the green sward.

     1820, Walter Scott, “[HTTP://WWW.GUTENBERG.ORG/FILES/82/82-H/82-H.HTM CHAPTER 11]”, in Ivanhoe; a Romance. […], volumes (please specify |volume=I to III), Edinburgh: […] Archibald Constable and Co.; London: Hurst, Robinson, and Co. […]

   • […] it is possible for a good [draughts] player to defeat an opponent without capturing his pieces.

     1958, Graham Greene, Our Man in Havana‎, New York: Pocket Books, published 1974, Part 5, Chapter 5, p. 196

2. One who opposes another in words (in a dispute, argument or controversy).  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • It is easier to confound than to convince an opponent; the former may be effected by a turn that has more happiness than truth in it.

     1777, Hannah More, “Thoughts on Conversation”, in Essays on Various Subjects‎, London: J. Wilkie and T. Cadell, page 54

   • “What more have you to say?” she asked, rather in the tone in which a person might address an opponent of adult age than such as is ordinarily used to a child.

     1847, Charlotte Brontë, chapter 4, in Jane Eyre‎

3. One who is opposed or objects (to a policy, course of action or set of ideas).  quotations  examples

   Quotations

   • Their Oath is to maintain the Romish-Catholick Religion, and persecute all Opponents to it.

     1652, Peter Heylin, Cosmographie‎, London: Henry Seile, Book 1, Part 20, p. 205

   • My own friends had been among the bitterest opponents of any proposal to visit the Captain and his daughters, only twelve months before; and now he was even admitted in the tabooed hours before twelve.

     1853, Elizabeth Gaskell, chapter 1, in Cranford‎

4. (historical) The participant who opens an academic debate by putting forward objections to a theological or philosophical thesis.  quotations

   Quotations

   • We make the argument appere slender, when we receiue it laughyngly, and declare by wordes, euen at the first, that it is nothyng to the purpose, and so abashe the opponent.

     1551, Thomas Wilson, “The maner of confutacion twoo waies considered”, in The Rule of Reason, conteinyng the Arte of Logique‎, London

   • […] diuinitie disputations, in all which those learned opponents, respondents, & moderators, quited themselues like themselues, sharplie and soundlie, besides all other solemne sermons & lectures.

     1587, Raphael Holinshed et al., “The Continvation of the chronicles of England from the yeare of our Lord 1576, to this present yeare 1586, &c.”, in The First and Second Volumes of Chronicles‎, London, page 1355

   • […] by the many Disputes that rise from hence, Mens Wits were confounded with their matters, Truth was lost & Brotherhood destroyed: thus the Devil acted the Part both of Opponent and Defendant, and managed the Passions of both Parties to his End, which was DISCORD.

     1679, William Penn, An Address to Protestants‎, London, Part 2, p. 77

   • […] this untoward Method allows him who is the Respondent, to prevaricate from his Duty, and turn Opponent: Which confounds those two Offices, and perverts all the Laws of Reasoning or Discoursing.

     1700, John Sergeant, Transnatural Philosophy‎, London, Book 3, Chapter 1, p. 276

(obsolete) Opposing; adverse; antagonistic.  quotations

(obsolete) Situated in front; opposite.  quotations