fight
verb /faɪt/
/faɪt/
Verb Forms
Idioms Phrasal Verbs| present simple I / you / we / they fight | /faɪt/ /faɪt/ |
| he / she / it fights | /faɪts/ /faɪts/ |
| past simple fought | /fɔːt/ /fɔːt/ |
| past participle fought | /fɔːt/ /fɔːt/ |
| -ing form fighting | /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/ /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/ |
- [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 the Fascists in Spain.
- fight somebody/something to fight a war/battle
- They gathered soldiers to fight the invading army.
- fight for something They fought for control of the island.
- fight somebody/something for something Didn't we fight a war for freedom?
- fight over something They were fighting over disputed land.
- fight somebody/something over something Future wars will be fought over water supplies.
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 Examples- We fought and won.
- Millions fought and died.
- He did not believe that the enemy was ready to fight.
- We believed we were fighting for freedom.
- These men fought for their country.
- Many African American soldiers fought for the Union.
- He fought alongside his comrades.
- I met someone who fought alongside my father in the war.
- They fought bravely against the enemy.
- The country fought several wars against its neighbours.
- The soldiers were trained to fight in the jungle.
- Bolshevik troops fought Polish forces in what is today Western Ukraine and Belarus.
- These soldiers fought under the imperial banner.
- Modern wars are fought with more sophisticated technology.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- bravely
- gallantly
- valiantly
- …
- be prepared to
- be ready to
- continue to
- …
- against
- alongside
- for
- …
- fight to the death
- [intransitive, transitive] to struggle physically with somebody
- My little brothers are always fighting.
- He taught me how to fight with a sword.
- fight with somebody Riot police fought with demonstrators.
- He sometimes fights with other children in the playground.
- fight somebody She fought her attacker, eventually forcing him to flee.
- fight over something Children will fight even over small things.
- dogs fighting over scraps of food
- fight somebody over something They were fighting each other over a toy.
- fight (somebody) for something Paris offers to fight Menelaus for Helen's hand.
- fight against somebody/something She fought hard against his strong grip.
Extra Examples- He was suspended from school for fighting.
- How did you get the black eye? Have you been fighting?
- I caught them fighting with sticks.
- He fought another boy over a girl.
- He fought against his attacker.
- Thousands of rioting students fought with police.
- They practically fought (with) each other for the honour of carrying my bag.
- A boy said he wanted to fight me after school.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- bitterly
- hard
- dirty
- …
- be prepared to
- against
- with
- [intransitive] to have an argument with somebody about something
- I remember lying in bed listening to my parents fighting.
- fight about something It's a trivial matter and not worth fighting about.
- fight over something Scholars have long fought over this point.
- fight with somebody I'm always fighting with my sister.
- It's normal for couples to fight.
- The thing we fight about most is money.
- We've fought over many issues, but always respected one another.
- Let's not fight over the details.
- He was well-liked by his peers, but often fought with his teachers.
- [transitive, intransitive] to try hard to stop, deal with or oppose something bad or something that you disagree with
- We will continue to fight for as long as it takes.
- She fought bravely, but died of the disease.
- fight something to fight terrorism/crime/corruption/poverty
- Vitamin C helps your body to fight disease.
- Workers are fighting the decision to close the factory.
- The fire crews had problems fighting the blaze.
- She fought a long battle against cancer.
- fight against something They are committed to fighting against racism.
- fight for somebody She spent her life fighting for the poor.
- fight something with something We must fight hatred with love.
- fight to do something She'll fight like a tiger to protect her children.
Extra Examples- We are committed to fighting poverty.
- The government will introduce new measures to fight terrorism.
- a superhero who wants to fight crime and clean up the city
- Fighting corruption is essential to restore public confidence.
- He vowed to fight against the decision.
- He has used his fame to become a spokesman for alleviating world poverty and fighting AIDS.
- His body was too weak to fight the infection.
- Why did you fight so hard against these changes?
- I've always had to fight against prejudice.
- They are fighting unwinnable wars against corporate giants.
- We're fighting for people who are discriminated against.
- The organization fights on behalf of political prisoners across the world.
- This battle is being fought with spin and PR.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- hard
- like a tiger
- tooth and nail
- …
- be determined to
- be prepared to
- be ready to
- …
- against
- for
- [intransitive, transitive] to try very hard to get something or to achieve something
- We fought for years before we got the recognition we deserved.
- fight for something Women fought for the right to vote.
- He's still fighting for compensation after the accident.
- fight to do something Doctors fought for more than six hours to save his life.
- She fought hard to get this film made.
- fight your way… She gradually fought her way to the top of the company.
Synonyms campaigncampaign- 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 parliamentary reform
- an advertising campaign
- battle a competition or argument between people or groups of people trying to win power or control:
- She finally won the legal battle for compensation.
- 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 greater efficiency
- a drive to reduce energy consumption
- war [sing.] an effort over a long period of time to get rid of or stop something bad:
- the war against crime
- 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 to stop compulsory redundancies.
- 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
Extra ExamplesTopics Successb1- The company is fighting for survival at the moment.
- We will never give up fighting for justice.
- He fought tirelessly for the abolition of slavery.
- Regional monopolies were bitterly fought for.
- We need a good manager who is prepared to fight for a fair share of the funds.
- We are fighting for equal rights.
- Campaigners fought to save the hospital from closure.
- She fought desperately to suppress her laughter.
- He fought hard to overcome his disability.
- They say they are fighting to preserve their way of life.
- She fought to keep her composure.
- We fought our way across London in heavy traffic.
- This small company fought its way to global success.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- hard
- like a tiger
- tooth and nail
- …
- be determined to
- be prepared to
- be ready to
- …
- against
- for
- [transitive, intransitive] to take part in a contest against somebody
- fight somebody/something (for something) to fight an election/a campaign
- fight for something She's fighting for a place in the national team.
- There are twelve parties fighting the election.
- The second half was fiercely fought, but neither side managed to score.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- bitterly
- hard
- successfully
- …
- be determined to
- be prepared to
- be ready to
- …
- for
- fiercely fought
- [intransitive, transitive] to take part in a boxing match
- Doctors fear he may never fight again.
Extra ExamplesTopics Sports: other sportsa2- fight somebody/something He has fought 37 bouts with 24 knockouts.
- [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.
Oxford Collocations Dictionaryadverb- hard
- like a tiger
- tooth and nail
- …
- be determined to
- be prepared to
- be ready to
- …
- against
- for
in war/battle
struggle/hit
argue
oppose
try to get/do something
in contest
in boxing
law
Word OriginOld English feohtan (verb), feoht(e), gefeoht (noun), of West Germanic origin; related to Dutch vechten, gevecht and German fechten, Gefecht.
Idioms
fight your/somebody’s corner
- (British English) to defend your/somebody’s position against other people
fight fire with fire
- to use similar methods in a fight or an argument to those your opponent is usingTopics Opinion and argumentc2
fight for (your) life
- 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.
fight your own battles
- 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.
- My parents believed in leaving me to fight my own battles.
fight shy of something/of doing something
- to be unwilling to accept something or do something, and to try to avoid it
- Successive governments have fought shy of such measures.
fight to the death/finish
- to fight until one of the two people or groups is dead, or until one person or group defeats the other
- The soldiers were prepared to fight to the death if they had to.
fight tooth and nail
- to fight in a very determined way for what you want
- The residents are fighting tooth and nail to stop the new development.
- She fought tooth and nail to keep custody of the children.
live to fight another day
- (saying) used to say that although you have failed or had a bad experience, you will continue
(fight) a losing battle
- (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!
- She wanted him to take some responsibility for his actions, but she knew it was a losing battle.