- [uncountable] aggressive or unfriendly feelings or behaviour
- There was a barely veiled hostility in her tone.
- hostility to/towards somebody/something feelings of hostility towards people from other backgrounds
- hostility between A and B There was open hostility between the two schools.
Extra ExamplesTopics Opinion and argumentc1, Feelingsc1- You could almost feel the hostility between her and her mother.
- the deep hostility felt by many teenagers against the police
- The talk lasted well over an hour and he sensed a growing hostility from his audience.
- the bitter hostility towards the occupying forces
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bitter
- considerable
- deep
- …
- feel
- sense
- express
- …
- hostility between
- hostility against
- hostility to
- …
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- [uncountable] strong and angry opposition towards an idea, a plan or a situation
- The proposal was met with outright hostility.
- hostility to/towards something public hostility to nuclear power
Extra ExamplesTopics Opinion and argumentc1- There is still considerable public hostility towards nuclear power.
- the widespread popular hostility to the war
- The prime minister was concerned that such a move would arouse public hostility.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- bitter
- considerable
- deep
- …
- feel
- sense
- express
- …
- hostility between
- hostility against
- hostility to
- …
- hostilities[plural] (formal) acts of fighting in a war
- the start/outbreak of hostilities between the two sides
- a cessation of hostilities (= an end to fighting)
Collocations War and peaceWar and peaceStarting a war- declare/make/wage war (on somebody/something)
- go to war (against/with somebody)
- cause/spark/provoke/foment/quell unrest
- incite/lead/crush/suppress a revolt/rebellion
- launch/mount/carry out a surprise/terrorist attack
- prevent/halt/represent an escalation of the conflict
- be torn apart by/be on the brink of civil war
- enter/invade/occupy somebody’s territory
- lead/launch/resist/repel an invasion
- adopt/develop/implement/pursue a military strategy
- carry out/execute/perform military operations/manoeuvres
- send/deploy/station/pull back/withdraw troops
- go on/fly/carry out a reconnaissance/rescue mission
- train/equip/deploy army/military/combat units
- lead/launch/conduct a raid/a surprise attack/an (air/airborne/amphibious) assault (on somebody)
- employ/use guerrilla tactics
- conduct/wage biological/guerrilla warfare
- fight/crush/defeat the rebels/the insurgency
- suffer/inflict a crushing defeat
- achieve/win a decisive victory
- halt/stop the British/German/Russian advance
- order/force a retreat
- join/serve in the army/navy/air force
- be/go/remain/serve on active duty
- serve/complete/return from a tour of duty
- be sent to the front (line)
- attack/strike/engage/defeat/kill/destroy the enemy
- see/report/be engaged in heavy fighting
- call for/be met with armed resistance
- come under heavy/machine-gun/mortar fire
- fire a machine-gun/mortar shells/rockets (at somebody/something)
- shoot a rifle/a pistol/bullets/missiles
- launch/fire a cruise/ballistic/anti-tank missile
- use biological/chemical/nuclear weapons
- inflict/suffer/sustain heavy losses/casualties
- be hit/killed by enemy/friendly/artillery fire
- become/be held as a prisoner of war
- harm/kill/target/protect innocent/unarmed civilians
- cause/avoid/limit/minimize civilian casualties/collateral damage
- impose/enforce/lift a curfew
- engage in/be a victim of ethnic cleansing
- be sent to an internment/a concentration camp
- accept/house/resettle refugees fleeing from war
- fear/threaten military/violent reprisals
- commit/be accused of war crimes/crimes against humanity/genocide
- make/bring/win/achieve/maintain/promote peace
- call for/negotiate/broker/declare a ceasefire/a temporary truce
- sign a ceasefire agreement
- call for/bring/put an end to hostilities
- demand/negotiate/accept the surrender of somebody/something
- establish/send (in) a peacekeeping force
- negotiate/conclude/ratify/sign/accept/reject/break/violate a peace treaty
Extra ExamplesTopics War and conflictc1- Hostilities broke out between the two provinces later that year.
- Hostilities were resumed later that year.
- On the 11th of November 1918 hostilities ceased.
- the beginning of hostilities against Germany in 1914
- the official cessation of hostilities against Japan
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadjective- major
- active
- cease
- end
- resume
- …
- begin
- break out
- commence
- …
- hostility against
- hostility between
- the cessation of hostilities
- an outbreak of hostilities
Word Originlate Middle English: from French hostilité or late Latin hostilitas, from Latin hostilis, from hostis ‘stranger, enemy’.
Check pronunciation:
hostility