battle

noun

/ˈbætl/

Idioms

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[countable, uncountable] a fight between armies, ships or planes, especially during a war; a violent fight between groups of people
- Napoleon was defeated at the Battle of Waterloo.
- in battle His father had been killed in battle.
- to go into battle
- battle with somebody Hundreds of protesters fought running battles with the police.
- battle against somebody In 1817 Bolivar won a series of battles against Spanish forces.
- battle between A and B It ended in a gun battle between police and drug smugglers.
see also pitched battle
Extra Examples
- He died in battle.
- Many young men were sent into battle without proper training.
- The film has all the usual car chases and gun battles.
- The battle between police and demonstrators continued for several hours.
- Charles V refused to give battle.
- Iwo Jima was for many the climactic battle of World War II.
- The leaders anxiously watched the battle unfold.
- The squadron was getting ready for the coming battle.
- The battle claimed the lives of three soldiers and 40 guerrillas.
- Police fought a pitched battle against demonstrators.
- Scores of people have been hurt in running battles with police.
Topics Historyb1, War and conflictb1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- fierce
- pitched
- running
- …
verb + battle
- fight
battle + verb
- erupt
preposition
- battle against
- battle between
- battle with
- …
See full entry
[countable] a competition, an argument or a struggle between people or groups of people trying to win power or control
- battle for something She finally won her six-year battle for compensation.
- battle with somebody (for something) They are engaged in a legal battle with their competitors.
- battle against somebody He faces an uphill battle against a hostile press.
- a battle of wits (= when each side uses their ability to think quickly to try to win)
- a battle of wills (= when each side is very determined to win)
- the battle of the sexes
- battle between A and B The essay discusses the endless battle between man and nature.
- battle over something The government now faces a new battle over tax increases.
Synonyms campaign
campaign
- battle
- struggle
- drive
- war
- fight
These are all words for an effort made to achieve or prevent something.
- 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
battle or struggle?A struggle is always about things that seem absolutely necessary, such as life and death or freedom. A battle can also be about things that are not absolutely necessary, just desirable, or about the pleasure of winning: the battle/struggle between good and evil • a legal struggle for compensation • a struggle of wills/wits.
- drive an organized effort by a group of people to achieve something:
  the drive for greater efficiency
  a drive to reduce energy consumption
campaign or drive?A campaign is usually aimed at getting other people to do something; a drive may be an attempt by people to get themselves to do something: From today, we’re going on an economy drive (= we must spend less). 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 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.
war or fight?A war is about stopping things, like drugs and crime, that everyone agrees are bad. A fight can be about achieving justice for yourself.Patterns
- 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 Examples
- A policy battle is raging in Washington.
- A ten-month legal battle ensued.
- She saw a way to end the prolonged legal battle.
- The college president fought a running battle with the editors of the student newspaper.
- The upcoming political battle could be for the allegiance of the young.
- There's now a real battle at the top of the First Division.
- A turf battle among competing drug cartels has claimed several lives.
- There followed a fierce battle between developers and the local community.
- There is set to be a heated battle between the oil industry and environmentalists.
- He had been conducting a personal battle of wits with the sales manager since his first day at work.
- Looking after a two-year-old needn't be a constant battle of wills.
- As a parent, you have to pick your battles.
Topics Opinion and argumentb1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- bitter
- fierce
- heated
- …
verb + battle
- do
- engage in
- fight
- …
battle + verb
- rage
- begin
- ensue
- …
preposition
- battle against
- battle between
- battle for
- …
phrases
- a battle of ideas
- a battle of words
- a battle of wills
- …
See full entry
[countable, usually singular] a determined effort that somebody makes to solve a difficult problem or succeed in a difficult situation
- battle against something She finally lost her long battle against cancer.
- He has fought an uphill battle against prejudice.
- battle for something Her life had become a battle for survival.
- the battle for human rights
- battle with something his battle with alcoholism
- battle to do something They have been at the forefront of the battle to save the hospital.
Topics Successb1, Difficulty and failureb1
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adjective
- bitter
- fierce
- heated
- …
verb + battle
- do
- engage in
- fight
- …
battle + verb
- rage
- begin
- ensue
- …
preposition
- battle against
- battle between
- battle for
- …
phrases
- a battle of ideas
- a battle of words
- a battle of wills
- …
See full entry

Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French bataille (noun), bataillier (verb), based on late Latin battualia ‘military or gladiatorial exercises’, from Latin battuere ‘to beat’.

Idioms

the battle lines are drawn

used to say that people or groups have shown which side they intend to support in an argument or contest that is going to beginTopics Opinion and argumentc2

do battle (with somebody) (over something)

to fight or argue with somebody
- He was quite prepared to do battle with his boss over his promotion.
- Are you prepared to do battle with your insurance company over the claim?
Topics Opinion and argumentc2

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.
Topics Opinion and argumentc2

half the battle

the most important or difficult part of achieving something
- When you’ve got a difficult day ahead, getting a good night’s sleep is often half the battle.

join battle (with somebody)

(formal) to begin fighting somebody
- The two armies joined battle.
- (figurative) Local residents have joined battle with the council over the lack of parking facilities.

(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.
Topics Difficulty and failurec2

battle

verb

/ˈbætl/

[intransitive, transitive]

Verb Forms

present simple I / you / we / they battle	/ˈbætl/ /ˈbætl/
he / she / it battles	/ˈbætlz/ /ˈbætlz/
past simple battled	/ˈbætld/ /ˈbætld/
past participle battled	/ˈbætld/ /ˈbætld/
-ing form battling	/ˈbætlɪŋ/ /ˈbætlɪŋ/

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to try very hard to achieve something difficult or to deal with something unpleasant or dangerous
- Both teams battled hard.
- battle for something The two leaders are battling for control of the government.
- battle with somebody/something She's still battling with a knee injury.
- battle against somebody/something We had to battle against the elements to reach safety.
- battle over something Residents are battling over plans for a new airport runway.
- battle it out The two sides will battle it out in the final next week.
- battle + adv. It’s vital that we keep battling away at the problem.
- battle to do something Doctors battled to keep her alive.
- I had to battle hard just to stay afloat.
- battle something He battled cancer for four years.
Extra Examples
- The players have battled hard.
- Doctors battled in vain to save his life.
- He battled with cancer for many months.
- Riot police battled with 4 000 students.
- Rescuers battled against torrential rain and high winds.
- The child battled bravely for her life.
- The victims are battling for compensation.
- There are players from eight countries battling for the title.
- Unions are battling with the company over the job losses.
- Competitors battled it out against the clock.
- We battled through the snowstorm.
- We'll keep battling away and hope that the goals start to come.
- He battled his way to the bar.
Topics Successb2, Difficulty and failureb2
Oxford Collocations Dictionary
adverb
- ferociously
- fiercely
- hard
- …
preposition
- against
- for
- over
- …
phrases
- battle it out
- battle your way
See full entry
Word OriginMiddle English: from Old French bataille (noun), bataillier (verb), based on late Latin battualia ‘military or gladiatorial exercises’, from Latin battuere ‘to beat’.