fight
7 ENTRIES FOUND:
Britannica Dictionary definition of FIGHT
1
a
:
to use weapons or physical force to try to hurt someone, to defeat an enemy, etc.
:
to struggle in battle or physical combat
— often + against
[no object]
-
The soldiers fought bravely.
-
When he was young he was always fighting.
-
He fought like a tiger.
-
The U.S. and Germany fought in World Wars I and II.
-
The U.S. fought against Germany in World Wars I and II.
[+ object]
-
They vowed to fight the invaders of their homeland.
-
The U.S. fought Germany in World Wars I and II.
b
[+ object]
:
to be involved in (a battle, struggle, etc.)
-
fight [=wage] a war/battle for independence
-
fighting a duel
-
I think we're fighting a losing battle. [=we are trying to do something that we will not be able to do]
2
[no object]
:
to argue in an angry way
-
He and his wife are always fighting over/about money.
-
They fight (with each other) all the time.
3
[no object]
:
to try hard to do something that is difficult
-
They were fighting [=struggling] to stay awake/alive.
-
We were fighting to protect our jobs.
4
a
:
to work hard to defeat, end, or prevent something
[no object]
-
fighting against poverty
-
fighting against AIDS/cancer/crime
[+ object]
-
fighting poverty
-
The company fought the takeover attempt.
-
His lawyers have vowed that they will fight the court's decision.
-
fight a fire
-
fight crime
b
[+ object]
:
to struggle against (something)
-
I've been fighting a cold all week.
-
We had to fight traffic [=to drive through a lot of traffic] all the way home.
5
[+ object]
:
to try not to be affected by (a feeling, urge, etc.)
-
He was fighting the urge/impulse to laugh. [=he was trying not to laugh]
6
:
to participate in the sport of boxing
[no object]
-
He will fight for the heavyweight title next month.
[+ object]
-
He has fought several worthy opponents.
-
He fought several difficult matches on his way to the title.
fight back
[phrasal verb]
1
:
to attack or try to defeat someone who is attacking or trying to defeat you
-
We can't just let them make these accusations against us. We need to fight back!
2
:
to make a new effort against an opponent
—
see also fightback
-
They fell behind early in the game, but they were able to fight back and tie the score in the second half.
3
◊ Someone who is fighting back tears is trying very hard not to cry.
-
He was fighting back tears as he announced his resignation.
fight fire with fire
:
to fight against an opponent by using the same methods or weapons that the opponent uses
fight for
[phrasal verb]
1
fight for (something)
:
to fight in support of (something)
-
young soldiers fighting for their country
-
This is a cause that's worth fighting for.
2
:
to fight or struggle to get, keep, or achieve (something)
-
The team is fighting for a spot in the play-offs.
-
The two armies fought all night for control of the fort.
-
We are fighting for our rights as citizens.
-
They had to fight for survival.
-
When they brought him to the hospital, he was fighting for breath. [=he was struggling to breathe]
-
Her condition is very serious. She's fighting for her life. [=she is struggling to survive; she is in danger of dying]
fight it out
1
:
to be in a fight
-
People were fighting it out over parking spaces.
2
:
to end a dispute by fighting or arguing
-
This matter won't be settled until the lawyers fight it out in court.
fight like cats and dogs
(chiefly US) informal or British fight like cat and dog
:
to fight or argue a lot or in a very forceful and angry way
-
a married couple who are always fighting like cats and dogs
fight off
[phrasal verb]
fight (someone or something) off
or
fight off (someone or something)
:
to defend yourself against (someone or something) by fighting or struggling
:
to avoid being harmed or overcome by (someone or something) by fighting or struggling
-
They fought off the attack/attackers.
-
I'm trying to fight off a cold.
fight on
[phrasal verb]
:
to continue fighting
-
He vowed that he would fight on alone.
fight shy of
fight the good fight
:
to try very hard to do what is right
-
He has always fought the good fight against oppression.
fight with
[phrasal verb]
1
fight with (someone or something)
:
to fight against (someone or something)
-
He fought with his wife over/about money.
-
The U.S. fought with Germany in World Wars I and II.
-
He fought with several worthy opponents.
2
:
to fight on the same side as (someone or something)
-
The U.S. fought (together) with the Soviet Union in World War II.
3
:
to fight by using (something, such as a weapon)
-
They were fighting with knives.
-
They fought with their fists.
fight your way
:
to move forward or make progress by pushing, fighting, or struggling
-
He fought his way through the crowd.
-
They've had to fight their way through a lot of red tape to get the project approved.
— fighting
adjective-
a powerful fighting force
-
a fighting ship
-
They admired his fighting [=aggressive] spirit.
◊ Fighting words are angry or insulting words that are likely to cause a fight.
◊ In U.S. English, someone who is fighting mad is angry enough to fight.
-
Some voters are fighting mad about the outcome of the election.
— fighting
noun [noncount]-
Fighting has broken out along the border.
-
There are reports of (heavy) fighting between rival factions.
2
fight
/ˈfaɪt/
noun
plural
fights
2
fight
/ˈfaɪt/
noun
plural
fights
Britannica Dictionary definition of FIGHT
1
[count]
:
a violent physical struggle between opponents
—
see also bullfight, dogfight, firefight, fistfight, gunfight
-
A fight broke out in the bar.
-
a bar fight
-
a street fight
-
a knife fight [=a fight using knives]
-
When he was young he was always getting into fights.
-
It would be foolish to pick a fight [=start a fight] with that guy.
-
a pillow fight [=a playful fight using pillows as weapons]
-
a food fight [=a playful fight in which people throw food at each other]
-
a snowball fight
2
[count]
:
an argument or quarrel
-
He got into another fight with his wife about money.
3
4
[count]
:
a struggle to achieve a goal or to defeat something or someone
-
We didn't win, but at least we put up a good fight.
-
They are leading/joining the fight against cancer.
-
the fight to defeat cancer
-
He's in the fight of his political life in this election.
-
She's in a fight for her life. [=she is struggling to stay alive]
5
[noncount]
:
a willingness to fight
