battle
Pluralbattles
Verbbattles, battling, battled
Pluralbattles
Formsbattles, battling, battled
- 1A big fight between two armies during a war.
Like a huge fight where two whole teams clash all at once.
The battle lasted three days before one side gave up.
Thousands of soldiers fought in the battle near the river.
UsageSay fight a battle or win a battle.
Similarengagement, clash, fight, encounter
Note
- 2A hard fight or struggle to win or to get something.
Like a tug-of-war where both sides pull hard to win.
Her battle with the illness lasted several years.
The election turned into a fierce battle between two parties.
UsageSay a battle with an illness or a battle for something.
Similarstruggle, fight, contest, war, campaign
Note
- 3
Less common meanings
- 4A contest where people or teams try to beat each other at rapping or dancing.
Like a sports match, but you win with words or dance moves instead of goals.
He won the rap battle with a clever final verse.
The two crews faced off in a dance battle downtown.
UsageOften rap battle or dance battle.
Similarshowdown, contest, competition
- 5In old armies, one large group of soldiers, especially the main group in the middle.
Like one team that is part of a much bigger group of teams.
The king sent his strongest battle to hold the bridge.
Once I link up with Lord Bolton and the Freys, I will have more than twelve thousand men. I mean to divide them into three battles and start up the causeway a half-day apart.
2000, George R[aymond] R[ichard] Martin, “”Here, battles means large groups of soldiers, separate divisions of an army.Note
- 6Short for battle buddy: a soldier paired with another soldier so they can help and protect each other.
- 7Of grass or land: rich, so that animals feeding on it grow fat.
- 8To feed someone or something and help them grow.
- 9To make land rich so that crops grow well on it.
Showing meanings only.
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Origin
It came through Old French bataille from Latin battuo, meaning 'to strike or fight'. Its deeper origin is uncertain.
Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 3 facts
- Battle came through Old French bataille, ultimately from Latin battuo. en.wiktionary.org
- Latin battuo means 'to strike or fight'. en.wiktionary.org
- The deeper origin is uncertain. en.wiktionary.org