This is the 1542nd most frequent German word.
entgegen
"Entgegen" means "contrary to" or "towards" depending on context.
In this sentence, 'entgegen' is used as a preposition meaning 'against' or 'opposite to' referring to physical movement against a direction.
Er ging dem Strom entgegen.
He walked against the current.
Here, 'entgegen' is used as a preposition meaning 'contrary to,' highlighting a stance or mindset opposed to a certain expectation.
Entgegen meiner Erwartung war das Treffen sehr erfolgreich.
Contrary to my expectation, the meeting was very successful.
In this context, 'entgegen' functions as a comparison or contrast marker indicating disagreement or opposition.