Adjacent Words

Fight definitions

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Webster's 1828 Dictionary

FIGHT, v.i.
1. To strive or contend for victory, in battle or in single combat; to attempt to defeat, subdue or destroy an enemy, either by blows or weapons; to contend in arms.
Come and be our captain, that we may fight with the children of Ammon. Judges 11.
When two persons or parties contend in person, fight is usually followed by with. But when we speak of carrying on war, in any other form, we may say, to fight against.
Saul took the kingdom over Israel, and fought against all his enemies on every side. 2 Samuel 14.
Hazael king of Syria went up, and fought against Gath.
2 Kings 12.
It is treason for a man to join an enemy to fight against his country.
To fight against, is to act in opposition; to oppose; to strive to conquer or resist.
The stars in their courses fought against Sisera. Judges 5.
2. To contend; to strive; to struggle to resist or check.
3. To act as a soldier.
FIGHT, v.t.
1. To carry on contention; to maintain a struggle for victory over enemies.
I have fought a good fight. 2 Timothy 4.
2. To contend with in battle; to war against. They fought the enemy in two pitched battles. The captain fought the frigate seven glasses. [Elliptical; with being understood.]
FIGHT, n.
1. A battle; an engagement; a contest in arms; a struggle for victory, either between individuals, or between armies, ships or navies. A duel is called a single fight or combat.
2. Something to screen the combatants in ships.
Up with your fights and your nettings prepare.

WordNet (r) 3.0 (2005)

n
1: a hostile meeting of opposing military forces in the course of a war; "Grant won a decisive victory in the battle of Chickamauga"; "he lost his romantic ideas about war when he got into a real engagement" [syn: battle, conflict, fight, engagement]
2: the act of fighting; any contest or struggle; "a fight broke out at the hockey game"; "there was fighting in the streets"; "the unhappy couple got into a terrible scrap" [syn: fight, fighting, combat, scrap]
3: an aggressive willingness to compete; "the team was full of fight" [syn: competitiveness, fight]
4: an intense verbal dispute; "a violent fight over the bill is expected in the Senate"
5: a boxing or wrestling match; "the fight was on television last night" v
1: be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight; "the tribesmen fought each other"; "Siblings are always fighting"; "Militant groups are contending for control of the country" [syn: contend, fight, struggle]
2: fight against or resist strongly; "The senator said he would oppose the bill"; "Don't fight it!" [syn: fight, oppose, fight back, fight down, defend]
3: make a strenuous or labored effort; "She struggled for years to survive without welfare"; "He fought for breath" [syn: fight, struggle]
4: exert oneself continuously, vigorously, or obtrusively to gain an end or engage in a crusade for a certain cause or person; be an advocate for; "The liberal party pushed for reforms"; "She is crusading for women's rights"; "The Dean is pushing for his favorite candidate" [syn: crusade, fight, press, campaign, push, agitate]

Merriam Webster's

I. verb (fought; fighting) Etymology: Middle English, from Old English feohtan; akin to Old High German fehtan to fight and perhaps to Latin pectere to comb — more at pectinate Date: before 12th century intransitive verb 1. a. to contend in battle or physical combat; especially to strive to overcome a person by blows or weapons b. to engage in boxing 2. to put forth a determined effort transitive verb 1. a. (1) to contend against in or as if in battle or physical combat (2) to box against in the ring b. (1) to attempt to prevent the success or effectiveness of <the company fought the takeover attempt> (2) to oppose the passage or development of <fight a bill in Congress> 2. a. wage, carry on <fight a battle> b. to take part in (as a boxing match) 3. to struggle to endure or surmount <fight a cold> 4. a. to gain by struggle <fights his way through> b. to resolve by struggle <fought out their differences in court> 5. a. to manage (a ship) in a battle or storm b. to cause to struggle or contend c. to manage in an unnecessarily rough or awkward manner II. noun Date: before 12th century 1. a. a hostile encounter ; battle, combat b. a boxing match c. a verbal disagreement ; argument 2. a struggle for a goal or an objective <a fight for justice> 3. strength or disposition for fighting ; pugnacity <still full of fight>

Oxford Reference Dictionary

v. & n. --v. (past and past part. fought) 1 intr. (often foll. by against, with) contend or struggle in war, battle, single combat, etc. 2 tr. contend with (an opponent) in this way. 3 tr. take part or engage in (a battle, war, duel, etc.). 4 tr. contend about (an issue, an election); maintain (a lawsuit, cause, etc.) against an opponent. 5 intr. campaign or strive determinedly to achieve something. 6 tr. strive to overcome (disease, fire, fear, etc.). 7 tr. make (one's way) by fighting. 8 tr. cause (cocks or dogs) to fight. 9 tr. handle (troops, a ship, etc.) in battle. --n. 1 a a combat, esp. unpremeditated, between two or more persons, animals, or parties. b a boxing-match. c a battle. 2 a conflict or struggle; a vigorous effort in the face of difficulty. 3 power or inclination to fight (has no fight left; showed fight). Phrases and idioms: fight back 1 counter-attack. 2 suppress (one's feelings, tears, etc.). fight down suppress (one's feelings, tears, etc.). fight for 1 fight on behalf of. 2 fight to secure (a thing). fighting chair US a fixed chair on a boat for use when catching large fish. fighting chance an opportunity of succeeding by great effort. fighting fish (in full Siamese fighting fish) a freshwater fish, Betta splendens, native to Thailand, the males of which sometimes kill each other during fights for territory. fighting fit fit enough to fight; at the peak of fitness. fighting fund money raised to support a campaign. fighting-top Naut. a circular gun-platform high on a warship's mast. fighting words colloq. words indicating a willingness to fight. fight off repel with effort. fight out (usu. fight it out) settle (a dispute etc.) by fighting. fight shy of avoid; be unwilling to approach (a person, task, etc.). make a fight of it (or put up a fight) offer resistance. Etymology: OE feohtan, feoht(e), f. WG

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Fight Fight, n. [OE. fight, feht, AS. feoht. See Fight, v. i.] 1. A battle; an engagement; a contest in arms; a combat; a violent conflict or struggle for victory, between individuals or between armies, ships, or navies, etc. Who now defies thee thrice to single fight. --Milton. 2. A struggle or contest of any kind. 3. Strength or disposition for fighting; pugnacity; as, he has a great deal of fight in him. [Colloq.] 4. A screen for the combatants in ships. [Obs.] Up with your fights, and your nettings prepare. --Dryden. Running fight, a fight in which the enemy is continually chased; also, one which continues without definite end or result. Syn: Combat; engagement; contest; struggle; encounter; fray; affray; action; conflict. See Battle.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Fight Fight (f[imac]t), v. i. [imp. & p. p. Fought (f[add]t); p. pr. & vb. n. Fighting.] [OE. fihten, fehten, AS. feohtan; akin to D. vechten, OHG. fehtan, G. fechten, Sw. f["a]kta, Dan. fegte, and perh. to E. fist; cf. L. pugnare to fight, pugnus fist.] 1. To strive or contend for victory, with armies or in single combat; to attempt to defeat, subdue, or destroy an enemy, either by blows or weapons; to contend in arms; -- followed by with or against. You do fight against your country's foes. --Shak. To fight with thee no man of arms will deign. --Milton. 2. To act in opposition to anything; to struggle against; to contend; to strive; to make resistance. To fight shy, to avoid meeting fairly or at close quarters; to keep out of reach.

Webster's 1913 Dictionary

Fight Fight, v. t. 1. To carry on, or wage, as a conflict, or battle; to win or gain by struggle, as one's way; to sustain by fighting, as a cause. He had to fight his way through the world. --Macaulay. I have fought a good fight. --2 Tim. iv. 7. 2. To contend with in battle; to war against; as, they fought the enemy in two pitched battles; the sloop fought the frigate for three hours. 3. To cause to fight; to manage or maneuver in a fight; as, to fight cocks; to fight one's ship. To fight it out, to fight until a decisive and conclusive result is reached.

Collin's Cobuild Dictionary

(fights, fighting, fought) Frequency: The word is one of the 700 most common words in English. 1. If you fight something unpleasant, you try in a determined way to prevent it or stop it happening. More units to fight forest fires are planned... I've spent a lifetime fighting against racism and prejudice. VERB: V n, V against n • Fight is also a noun. ...the fight against drug addiction. N-COUNT: oft N against n 2. If you fight for something, you try in a determined way to get it or achieve it. Our Government should be fighting for an end to food subsidies... I told him how we had fought to hold on to the company... The team has fought its way to the cup final. VERB: V for n, V to-inf, V way prep/adv • Fight is also a noun. I too am committing myself to continue the fight for justice. = battle N-COUNT: usu N for n 3. If an army or group fights a battle with another army or group, they oppose each other with weapons. You can also say that two armies or groups fight a battle. The two men fought a battle over land and water rights... In the latest incident at the weekend police fought a gun battle with a gang which used hand grenades against them... The Sioux had always fought other tribes for territorial rights. V-RECIP: pl-n V n over/for n, V n with n, V n for/over n, also pl-n V, V n 4. If a person or army fights in a battle or a war, they take part in it. He fought in the war and was taken prisoner by the Americans... If I were a young man I would sooner go to prison than fight for this country... My father did leave his university to fight the Germans... Last month rebels fought their way into the capital. VERB: V, V for n, V n, V way prep/adv see also dogfight • fighting More than nine hundred people have died in the fighting. 5. If one person fights with another, or fights them, the two people hit or kick each other because they want to hurt each other. You can also say that two people fight. As a child she fought with her younger sister... I did fight him, I punched him but it was like hitting a wall... He wrenched the crutch from Jacob, who didn't fight him for it... I refuse to act that way when my kids fight... You get a lot of unruly drunks fighting each other. V-RECIP: V with n, V n, V n for n, pl-n V, pl-n V pron-recip • Fight is also a noun. He had had a fight with Smith and bloodied his nose. N-COUNT: oft N with n 6. If one person fights with another, or fights them, they have an angry disagreement or quarrel. You can also say that two people fight. (INFORMAL) She was always arguing with him and fighting with him... Gwendolen started fighting her teachers... Mostly, they fight about paying bills. = quarrel, argue V-RECIP: V with n, V n, pl-n V about/over n, also pl-n V, V with n prep, V n prep • Fight is also a noun. We think maybe he took off because he had a big fight with his dad the night before. N-COUNT 7. If you fight your way to a place, you move towards it with great difficulty, for example because there are a lot of people or obstacles in your way. I fought my way into a carriage just before the doors closed... = battle VERB: V way prep/adv 8. A fight is a boxing match. The referee stopped the fight. = bout N-COUNT 9. To fight means to take part in a boxing match. In a few hours' time one of the world's most famous boxers will be fighting in Britain for the first time... I'd like to fight him because he's undefeated and I want to be the first man to beat him... I'd like to fight him for the title. VERB: V, V n, V n for n 10. If you fight an election, you are a candidate in the election and try to win it. The former party treasurer helped raise almost £40 million to fight the election campaign. VERB: V n 11. You can use fight to refer to a contest such as an election or a sports match. (JOURNALISM) ...the fight for power between the two parties. = contest N-COUNT: usu sing 12. If you fight a case or a court action, you make a legal case against someone in a very determined way, or you put forward a defence when a legal case is made against you. Watkins sued the Army and fought his case in various courts for 10 years... The newspaper is fighting a damages action brought by the actress. VERB: V n, V n 13. Fight is the desire or ability to keep fighting. I thought that we had a lot of fight in us. N-UNCOUNT 14. If you fight an emotion or desire, you try very hard not to feel it, show it, or act on it, but do not always succeed. I desperately fought the urge to giggle... He fought with the urge to smoke one of the cigars he'd given up awhile ago... He fought to be patient with her. VERB: V n, V with n, V to-inf 15. If you describe someone as fighting fit, you are emphasizing that they are very fit or healthy. (BRIT) After a good night's sleep I feel fighting fit again. PHRASE: v-link PHR [emphasis] 16. Someone who is fighting for their life is making a great effort to stay alive, either when they are being physically attacked or when they are very ill. He is still fighting for his life in hospital. PHRASE: V inflects 17. to fight a losing battle: see battle

International Standard Bible Encyclopedia

See WAR; GAMES.

Soule's Dictionary of English Synonyms

I. v. n. 1. Combat, war, battle, contend (in arms), draw the sword, unsheathe the sword, measure swords, take arms, take up arms, go to war let slip the dogs of war, try the fortune of arms or battle. 2. Do battle, ply one's weapons, contend, struggle, strive. 3. Contend, join battle, give battle, struggle, strive, struggle for victory, engage each other. 4. Come to blows, engage in fisticuffs, fall to blows or loggerheads. 5. Contend, contest, struggle, strive, dispute, oppose, wrestle, make resistance, act in opposition. II. v. a. 1. War against, combat against, contend against, join battle with, break a lance with, come to close quarters with. 2. Carry through (by fighting), win, gain, sustain, maintain. 3. Wage, carry on, conduct. 4. Manoeuvre, manage (in battle), handle, carry through the fight. III. n. 1. Combat, battle, conflict, contest, struggle, engagement, encounter, action, affair, brush, fray, affray, mêlée. 2. Affray, fray, personal encounter, turn at fisticuffs. 3. Broil, riot, mêlée, affray, row (colloq.). 4. Fighting temper, spirit, resistance, disposition to struggle.

Moby Thesaurus

Olympic games, Olympics, a outrance, action, aerial combat, affray, against, aggression, aggressiveness, agonize, altercate, altercation, antagonism, antagonize, argue, argument, armored combat, avoid, bandy with, battle, battle it out, battle royal, beat against, beat up against, beef, bellicism, bellicosity, belligerence, belligerency, bicker, bicker over, bickering, blood feud, bout, box, brawl, breast the wave, broil, brush, buck, buffet, buffet the waves, bullfight, bump heads, carry on hostilities, chauvinism, clash, clash of arms, close, close with, cockfight, collide, combat, combativeness, come to blows, compete with, concours, conflict, conflict with, confound, confront, confute, contend, contend about, contend against, contend for, contend with, contention, contentiousness, contest, contradict, contravene, controversy, cope with, cross swords with, cut and thrust, debate, defy, derby, differ, difference of opinion, disagree, disagreement, discord, dispute, dissension, dissent, dissidence, disturbance, dogfight, donnybrook, donnybrook fair, duel, embroilment, encounter, engage, engage in hostilities, engage with, engagement, enthusiasm, exchange blows, exchange of blows, exchange shots, fence, ferocity, feud, fierceness, fight a duel, fight against, fight for, fight like devils, fight over, fight shy of, fight with, fighting, fire fight, flite, fliting, fracas, fray, free-for-all, fuss, game, games, give and take, give satisfaction, go, go to loggerheads, grapple, grapple with, ground combat, grunt and sweat, gymkhana, hand-to-hand combat, hand-to-hand fight, hassle, have it out, have words, hostilities, hostility, house-to-house combat, huff and puff, imbroglio, jingoism, join battle with, join issue, jostle, joust, keep away from, knock-down-and-drag-out, labor against, lock horns, logomachy, make a stand, make war, martialism, match, matching, measure swords with, meet, meeting, melee, mettle, militancy, militarism, militate against, misunderstanding, mix it up, monomachy, naval combat, offer resistance, open quarrel, oppose, oppugn, passage of arms, pitched battle, pluck, polemic, protest, pugnaciousness, pugnacity, quarrel, quarrel over, quarrelsomeness, question, rail, rally, rassle, refute, reluct, reluctate, rencontre, repel, repulse, resist, riot, rise up, rival, row, rowdy, ruckus, rumble, run a tilt, run-in, running fight, saber rattling, scramble, scrap, scrimmage, scuffle, set to, set-to, settle it, sharp words, shed blood, shoving match, single combat, skirmish, slanging match, snarl, spar, spat, spill blood, spirit, squabble, squabble over, stand-up fight, stem the tide, stickle for, stipulate for, street fight, strife, strive, strive against, strive for, strive with, struggle, struggle against, struggle for, struggle with, take a stand, take issue with, take on, tangle with, tauromachy, test, thrust and parry, tiff, tilt, tilt with, tournament, tourney, traverse, trial, truculence, try conclusions with, tug, tug-of-war, tussle, unfriendliness, unpeacefulness, vendetta, vie for, vie with, wage war, war, warfare, warmongering, warpath, withstand, words, wrangle, wrangle over, wrestle, wrestle with, zeal, zest