- 1[intransitive, transitive] to take part in a war or battle against an enemy soldiers trained to fight He fought in Vietnam. fight against somebody My grandfather fought against them in World War II. fight somebody/something to fight a war/battle They gathered soldiers to fight the invading army. Topic CollocationsWar and Peacestarting a war
- declare/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/maneuvers
- 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 an (air/airborne/amphibious) attack/a surprise attack (on somebody); an assault/a raid (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 American/German advance
- order/force a retreat
- join/serve in the Army/Navy/Air Force/Marines/Coast Guard/reserves
- be/go/remain/serve on active duty
- do/complete/return from a tour of duty
- be sent to the front (line)
- attack/strike/engage/defeat/kill/destroy the enemy
- witness/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(n) 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/be taken 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 a concentration/an internment camp
- accept/house/resettle/turn away 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
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struggle/hit - 2[intransitive, transitive] fight (somebody) to struggle physically with someone My little brothers are always fighting.
- 3[intransitive] fight (with somebody) (about/over something) to have an argument with someone about something It's a trivial matter and not worth fighting about. I remember lying in bed listening to my parents fighting. oppose
- 4[transitive, intransitive] fight (something) to try hard to stop, deal with, or oppose something bad to fight racism/corruption/poverty, etc. Workers are fighting the decision to close the factory. The fire crews had problems fighting the blaze. He fought a long battle with cancer. We will fight for as long as it takes. try to get/do something
- 5[intransitive, transitive] to try very hard to get something or to achieve something fight (for something) He's still fighting for compensation after the accident. fight your way… She gradually fought her way to the top of the company. fight to do something Doctors fought for more than six hours to save his life. She'll fight like a tiger to protect her children. Thesauruscampaign
- battle
- struggle
- drive
- war
- fight
- campaign a series of planned activities that are intended to achieve a particular social, commercial, or political aim:the campaign for health care reform an advertising campaign
- battle a competition or argument between people or groups of people trying to win power or control:She finally won her legal battle. the endless battle between man and nature
- struggle a competition or argument between people or groups of people trying to win power or control:the struggle for independence the struggle between good and evil
- drive an organized effort by a group of people to achieve something:the drive for success a drive to reduce energy consumption a major fund drive
- A campaign is usually an attempt to get other people to do something, that takes place over a period of time; a drive may be a shorter or more local effort. A campaign may be larger, more formal, and more organized than a drive.
- war [sing.] an effort over a long period of time to get rid of or stop something bad:the war against poverty
- fight [sing.] the work of trying to stop or prevent something bad or achieve something good; an act of competing, especially in a sport:Workers won their fight for better benefits and higher pay.
- A war is about stopping things, like drugs and crime, that everyone agrees are bad. A fight can be about achieving justice for yourself.
- a campaign/battle/struggle/drive/war/fight against something
- a campaign/battle/struggle/drive/fight for something
- a one-man/one-woman/personal campaign/battle/struggle/war
- a bitter campaign/battle/struggle/drive/war/fight
- to launch/embark on a campaign/battle/drive
- to lead/continue the campaign/battle/struggle/drive/fight
- to win/lose a battle/struggle/war/fight
in contest - 6[intransitive, transitive] to take part in a contest against someone fight for something She's fighting for a place on the national team. fight somebody/something It was a hard-fought presidential compaign. in boxing
- 7[intransitive, transitive] fight (somebody) to take part in a boxing match Doctors fear he may never fight again.
- 8[transitive, intransitive] to try to get what you want in court fight (somebody) for something He fought his wife for custody of the children. fight something I'm determined to fight the case.
verb jump to other results
NAmE//faɪt//
Verb Forms present simple I / you / we / they fight he / she / it fights
past simple fought
-ing form fighting
noun [uncountable] Fighting broke out in three areas of the city last night. outbreaks of street fighting prize fighting (= fighting in boxing matches for money)Idioms
to use similar methods in a fight or an argument to those your opponent is using
to make a great effort to stay alive, especially when you are badly injured or seriously ill A young cyclist is fighting for his life after the accident.
a small chance of being successful if a great effort is made We still have a fighting chance of beating them and winning the tournament. If you win this round then you still have a fighting chance.
a feeling that you are ready to fight very hard for something or to try something difficult
angry words that insult or challenge someone
to argue in a very angry way, especially regularly over a period of time We fought like cats and dogs when we were younger.
to try to do something that you will probably never succeed in doing I'm fighting a losing battle against the mess in this house!
to be able to win an argument or get what you want without anyone's help I wouldn't get involved—he's old enough to fight his own battles.
to fight until one of the two people or groups is dead, or until one person or group defeats the other
to fight in a very determined way for what you want The residents are fighting tooth and nail to stop the new development.
used to say that although you have failed or had a bad experience, you will continue
used to say that although you have failed or had a bad experience, you will continue Phrasal Verbsfight backfight offfight outSee fight in the Oxford Advanced Learner's Dictionary
Check pronunciation: fight