Word forms: plural, 3rd person singular presenttense battles, present participle battling, past tense, past participle battled
1. variable noun
A battle is a violent fight between groups of people, especially one between military forces during a war.
...the victory of King William III at the Battle of the Boyne.
...after a gun battle between police and drug traffickers.
...men who die in battle.
Synonyms: fight, war, attack, action More Synonyms of battle
2. countable noun
A battle is a conflict in which different people or groups compete in order to achieve success or control.
The political battle over the pre-budget report promises to be a bitter one.
...the eternal battle between good and evil in the world.
...a macho battle for supremacy.
He was appalled to discover members of the board fighting damaging personal battles.
3. countable noun [usually singular]
You can use battle to refer to someone's efforts to achieve something in spite of very difficult circumstances.
...the battle against crime. [+ against]
She has fought a constant battle with her weight. [+ with]
Greg lost his brave battle against cancer two years ago. [+ against]
Synonyms: campaign, war, drive, movement More Synonyms of battle
4. verb
To battlewith an opposing group means to take part in a fight or contest against them. In American English, you can also say that one group or person is battling another.
Thousands of people battled with police and several were reportedly wounded. [V + with/against]
The sides must battle again for a quarter-final place on December 16. [VERB]
They're also battling the government to win compensation. [VERB noun]
5. verb
To battle means to try hard to do something in spite of very difficult circumstances. In British English, youbattleagainst something or with something. In American English, you battle something.
Doctors battled throughout the night to save her life. [VERB to-infinitive]
...a lone yachtsman returning from his months of battling with the elements. [V + with/against/through]
In Wyoming, firefighters are still battling the two blazes. [VERB noun]
Synonyms: struggle, work, fight, labour More Synonyms of battle
battlerWord forms: plural battlerscountable noun
If anyone can do it, he can. He's a battler and has a strong character.
6. See also pitched battle, running battle
7.
See do battle
8.
See half the battle
9.
See the battle lines are drawn
10.
See to fight a losing battle
11.
See battle it out
12.
See lose/win the battle, win/lose the war
13.
See battle of wills
14.
See battle of wits
More Synonyms of battle
battle in British English
(ˈbætəl)
noun
1.
a fight between large armed forces; military or naval engagement; combat
2.
conflict; contention; struggle
his battle for recognition
3. do battle
verb
4. (whenintr, often foll by against, for, or with)
to fight in or as if in military combat; contend (with)
she battled against cancer
5.
to struggle in order to achieve something or arrive somewhere
he battled through the crowd
6. (intransitive) Australian
to scrape a living, esp by doing odd jobs
Derived forms
battler (ˈbattler)
noun
Word origin
C13: from Old French bataile, from Late Latin battālia exercises performed by soldiers, from battuere to beat
Battle in British English1
(ˈbætəl)
noun
a town in SE England, in East Sussex: site of the Battle of Hastings (1066); medieval abbey. Pop: 5190 (2001)
Battle in British English2
(ˈbætəl)
noun
Kathleen. born 1948, US opera singer: a coloratura soprano, she made her professional debut in 1972 and sang with New York City's Metropolitan Opera (1977–94)
battle in American English1
(ˈbætəl)
noun
1.
a fight, esp. a large-scale engagement, between armed forces on land, at sea, or in the air
2.
armed fighting; combat or war
3.
any fight or struggle; conflict
4. Archaic
a battalion
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈbattled or ˈbattling
5.
to oppose as in a battle; fight
verb intransitive
6.
to take part in a battle; fight
7.
to struggle; contend
Idioms:
give battle
SYNONYMY NOTE: battle1 denotes a conflict between armed forces in a war and implies a large-scale, prolongedcontest over a particular area; , engagement, the more formal term, stresses the actual meeting of opposing forces, with no restrictiveconnotation as to duration; a , campaign is a series of military operations with a particular objective and may involve anumber of battles; , encounter usually suggests a chance meeting of hostile forces; , skirmish refers to a brief, light encounter between small detachments; , action stresses the detailed operations of active fighting [killed in action]; combat, the most general of these terms, simply implies armed fighting, without furtherqualification
Derived forms
battler (ˈbattler)
noun
Word origin
ME & OFr bataille < VL battalia < L battualia, exercises of gladiators and soldiers in fighting and fencing < battuere: see batter1
battle in American English2
(ˈbætəl)
verb transitiveWord forms: ˈbattled or ˈbattling
Archaic
to build battlements on
More idioms containing
battle
a running battle
join battle
fight a losing battle
a battle of wits
a battle of wills
the battle lines are drawn
COBUILD Collocations
battle
battle rages
boardroom battle
bruising battle
chart battle
costly battle
court battle
courtroom battle
custody battle
decisive battle
divorce battle
election battle
ensuing battle
fierce battle
head-to-head battle
intense battle
leadership battle
lengthy battle
long battle
long-running battle
naval battle
physical battle
ratings battle
relish a battle
spark a battle
street battle
survive a battle
tactical battle
takeover battle
tough battle
uphill battle
Examples of 'battle' in a sentence
battle
The midfielder is used to defying the odds and winning big battles.
The Sun (2017)
But if there was a gun battle in our street we stayed at home.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Tata has won his battle for control of the family firm, but now what?
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Last night rescuers were battling to find at least 20 still missing.
The Sun (2017)
She died in 2012 after a long battle with cancer.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The Exiles battled hard on a dreadful pitch that looked more like a beach.
The Sun (2016)
Over the past six years it has also been battling a cholera epidemic that has killed about 9,000 people.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
It turned out we'd only lost one vicious battle, not the culture war.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Those of us who have greasy skin face a constant battle against shine and spots.
The Sun (2009)
She had been battling ovarian cancer for more than a year.
The Sun (2011)
They want to be direct and win that ego battle by rolling over the top of you.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Ten years down the line and he is still battling hard.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
But it is a necessary battle and one he can win.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
But officials admit that the battle against organised crime could last a generation.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
That led to a hotly contested court battle.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
Now he is fighting a lonely battle.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
They also battled agonising hunger pangs with bags of crisps.
The Sun (2008)
Yet defenders of handwriting face a difficult battle with their target audience.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The long battle with the government took a heavy toll.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
There may be bigger battles to come.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
She was fatally wounded in a gun battle and her death is being probed.
The Sun (2012)
These men and women were often able to bring their experience from civilian life into the battle group.
Richard Holmes Dusty Warriors: Modern Soldiers at War (2006)
He was battling an unsympathetic crowd.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Sometimes the battle is open conflict.
Christianity Today (2000)
She was quick to praise the medical team who saved her life once and now appears to be winning the battle again.
The Sun (2015)
This was to be the pattern for the subsequent battles in the war in the Pacific.
Thackrah, J. R. Twentieth Century History - Basic Facts (1985)
It had become fractured and lawless and the rebels were beginning to lose the battle for hearts and minds as daily life became more dangerous.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
battle
British English: battle /ˈbætl/ NOUN
In a war, a battle is a fight between armies or between groups of ships or planes.
...a gun battle.
American English: battle
Arabic: مَعْرَكَة
Brazilian Portuguese: batalha
Chinese: 战役
Croatian: bitka
Czech: bitva
Danish: slag
Dutch: veldslag
European Spanish: batalla
Finnish: taistelu
French: bataille
German: Schlacht
Greek: μάχη
Italian: battaglia
Japanese: 戦闘
Korean: 전투
Norwegian: kamp
Polish: bitwa
European Portuguese: batalha
Romanian: bătălie
Russian: битва
Latin American Spanish: batalla
Swedish: slag
Thai: การสู้รบ
Turkish: muharebe
Ukrainian: бійка
Vietnamese: cuộc chiến
All related terms of 'battle'
battle-ax
a heavy ax with a wide blade , formerly used as a weapon of war
do battle
If one person or group does battle with another, they take part in a battle or contest against them. You can also say that two people or groups do battle .
air battle
a fight between the aircraft of two opposing sides in a war
battle-axe
If someone calls an older woman a battle-axe , they mean she is very difficult and unpleasant because of her fierce and determined attitude .
battle cry
A battle cry is a phrase that is used to encourage people to support a particular cause or campaign.
battle line
the line along which troops are positioned for battle
battle plan
the strategy to be used in a military engagement
battle star
a small star worn on a campaign ribbon , awarded to a member of the armed forces for participation in a particular battle or campaign
battle zone
an area where a battle or battles are being fought
give battle
to commence fighting
gun battle
a violent fight between groups of people in which guns are used
join battle
to decide that you are going to try to beat someone in an argument or contest
long battle
You can use battle to refer to someone's efforts to achieve something in spite of very difficult circumstances .
sea battle
a battle fought at sea, using ships and boats
battle array
the strategic arrangement of fighters and weapons in a battle
battle dress
the ordinary uniform of a soldier, consisting of tunic and trousers
battle group
a group of warships usually consisting of at least one aircraft carrier , other surface ships, submarines , landing craft , etc
battle jacket
a closefitting jacket reaching to the waist
battle order
the strategic arrangement of fighters and weapons in a battle
battle rages
A battle is a violent fight between groups of people, especially one between military forces during a war.
battle royal
a fight, esp with fists or cudgels , involving more than two combatants ; melee
battle scene
A scene in a play, film, or book is part of it in which a series of events happen in the same place.
chart battle
A battle is a conflict in which different people or groups compete in order to achieve success or control.
costly battle
A battle is a conflict in which different people or groups compete in order to achieve success or control.
court battle
A battle is a conflict in which different people or groups compete in order to achieve success or control.
fierce battle
A battle is a violent fight between groups of people, especially one between military forces during a war.
losing battle
a hopeless enterprise ; an attempt that is doomed to failure
naval battle
A battle is a violent fight between groups of people, especially one between military forces during a war.
street battle
A battle is a violent fight between groups of people, especially one between military forces during a war.
tough battle
A battle is a conflict in which different people or groups compete in order to achieve success or control.
uphill battle
You can use battle to refer to someone's efforts to achieve something in spite of very difficult circumstances .
battle cruiser
A battle cruiser is a large fast warship that is lighter than a battleship and moves more easily .
battle fatigue
a type of psychological disorder , characterized by anxiety , depression , and loss of motivation , caused by the stress of active warfare
battle hardened
toughened by the experience of battle
battle-scarred
adversely affected from the experience of battle, or some other traumatic experience
battle stations
the places to which soldiers, sailors , warships , etc. are assigned for a battle or an emergency
bruising battle
A battle is a conflict in which different people or groups compete in order to achieve success or control.
custody battle
A battle is a conflict in which different people or groups compete in order to achieve success or control.
decisive battle
A battle is a violent fight between groups of people, especially one between military forces during a war.
divorce battle
A battle is a conflict in which different people or groups compete in order to achieve success or control.
election battle
A battle is a conflict in which different people or groups compete in order to achieve success or control.
ensuing battle
A battle is a violent fight between groups of people, especially one between military forces during a war.
intense battle
A battle is a violent fight between groups of people, especially one between military forces during a war.
lengthy battle
A battle is a conflict in which different people or groups compete in order to achieve success or control.
physical battle
A battle is a conflict in which different people or groups compete in order to achieve success or control.
pitched battle
A pitched battle is a very fierce and violent fight involving a large number of people.
ratings battle
A battle is a conflict in which different people or groups compete in order to achieve success or control.
running battle
When two groups of people fight a running battle , they keep attacking each other in various parts of a place.
tactical battle
A battle is a conflict in which different people or groups compete in order to achieve success or control.
takeover battle
A battle is a conflict in which different people or groups compete in order to achieve success or control.