fightverb
uk/faɪt/us/faɪt/fought, foughtB1 [ I or T ] to use physical force to try to defeat another person or group of people:
There were children fighting in the playground.
The soldiers fought from house to house.
They fought with (= on the side of) the North against the South.
The birds were fighting over (= competing for) a scrap of food.
They fight like cats and dogs (= fight or argue very angrily and violently).
They fought to the bitter end/to the death (= until everyone on one side was dead or completely defeated).
B2 [ I or T ] to use a lot of effort to defeat or achieve something, or to stop something happening:
He fought the disease bravely for three years.
We need the public's help in fighting crime.
He fought against racism.
Vitamin C is thought to help fight colds and flu.
They had to fight hard for improvements to the road system.
One of the passengers was fighting for her life (= so ill or injured that she might die) last night after receiving multiple injuries in the collision.
With debts of over $2 million, the corporation is fighting for its life (= people are trying hard to stop it being destroyed)
I had to fight (back) (= tried hard not to show or produce) the tears when he said he was leaving.
The bank fought off (= successfully prevented) a takeover by another bank recently.
I was getting a cold at the start of the week but I seem to have fought it off (= got rid of it).
B2 [ I ] informal to argue:
I wish they wouldn't fight in front of the kids.
I could hear them fighting about money again.
More examples
- We didn't win this time, but we live to fight another day.
- Several opposition groups are fighting to remove the president from power.
- You can accuse me of cowardice, but I still wouldn't volunteer to fight in a war.
- These organizations have fought very hard for the rights and welfare of immigrants.
- They fought desperately for their lives.
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Fighting
- a fight to the finish idiom
- bloodless
- bloodletting
- brawl
- combat
- counterinsurgency
- disturbance
- dust-up
- engagement
- fighting
- fistfight
- fisticuffs
- fray
- he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day idiom
- hotspot
- last
- pick
- shoot
- slug
- slug it out idiom
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You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Responding to an attack
Arguing & disagreeing
Idiom(s)
fight your corner
fight a losing battle
fight fire with fire
fight it out
fight shy of
he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day
Phrasal verb(s)
fight back
fightnoun
uk/faɪt/us/faɪt/B1 [ C ] an argument or an occasion when someone uses physical force to try to defeat someone:
Jeff's always getting into/starting fights.
The older boys broke up (= stopped) the fight.
UK I had a stand-up fight with her (= we argued strongly) about the phone bill.
Do you have tickets for the big fight (= boxing competition)?
He put up a fight when the police tried to arrest him.
B2 [ C ] a situation in which you use a lot of effort to defeat someone or achieve something, or to stop something happening:
We must continue the fight against homelessness.
He died last week after a long fight with cancer.
They put up a good fight (= played well) against a more experienced team.
[ U ] the wish or ability to fight or act energetically:
The team came out on the field full of fight.
More examples
- The place emptied pretty quickly when the fight started.
- Nelson Mandela is revered for his brave fight against apartheid.
- He had a fight at school and came home with a black eye.
- Police urged continued vigilance in the fight against crime.
- I left the pub to avoid a fight .
Thesaurus: synonyms and related words
Fighting
- a fight to the finish idiom
- bloodless
- bloodletting
- brawl
- combat
- counterinsurgency
- disturbance
- dust-up
- engagement
- fighting
- fistfight
- fisticuffs
- fray
- he who fights and runs away, lives to fight another day idiom
- hotspot
- last
- pick
- shoot
- slug
- slug it out idiom
See more results »
You can also find related words, phrases, and synonyms in the topics:
Arguments & disagreements
Effort and expending energy
Strength of will and determination
Excitement, interest, energy and enthusiasm
Idiom(s)
a fight to the finish