fight

Formsfights, fighting, fought

Pluralfights

1. 1
   verbtransitive or intransitive

   To take part in a violent physical struggle or war, against someone or with each other, or to wage a battle or war.

   The general had to fight a war on two fronts.

   Rebel groups still fight government troops in the mountains near the border.

   UsageThe object can be the contest or the enemy: fight a war, fight the rebels. Fight with can mean beside or against.

   Similarbattle, wage, combat, engage

   Note

   The verb can even take its own noun, and the King James Bible of 1611 made that doubling memorable: “I have fought a good fight,” “Fight the good fight of faith.” Addison's Cato (1713) stretches the object to ideals, its hero fighting “the cause” of virtue and liberty. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 5 facts

   • The King James Bible was first published in 1611. neh.gov
   • The King James Bible contains “I have fought a good fight” in 2 Timothy 4:7. en.wikisource.org
   • The King James Bible contains “Fight the good fight of faith” in 1 Timothy 6:12. en.wikisource.org
   • Joseph Addison wrote Cato, first published in 1713. gutenberg.ca
   • Cato is described as fighting the cause of virtue and liberty; Portius speaks the lines about him. gutenberg.ca
2. 2
   violent clashnouncountable or uncountable

   A violent physical clash involving two or more opposing people or groups.

   A fight erupted outside the bar after the match ended.

   Police struggled to break up the fight between rival groups.

   UsageCommon verbs: start, pick, get into, break up a fight. Looking for a fight means trying to provoke one.

   Similarbrawl, scuffle, clash, fracas, scrap

3. 3
   try to stopverbtransitive

   To try to overpower something; to fiercely counteract it.

   Crews worked tirelessly to fight the spreading wildfire.

   The medication fights inflammation quite effectively.

   UsageThe object is a force or problem: fight a fire, fight corruption, fight the urge to laugh.

   Similarcombat, tackle, battle, counteract, resist

   Note

   Ann Aguirre's The Shape of My Heart (2014) has a narrator who 'fought a sneeze,' which shows how small the adversary can be. Governments, medicines and willpower all take this verb, and the sense is about resisting, not necessarily winning. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 2 facts

   • Ann Aguirre wrote The Shape of My Heart, first published in 2014. en.wikipedia.org
   • The book's narrator uses the exact words 'fought a sneeze'. en.wiktionary.org
4. 4
   strive forverbintransitive

   To strive or campaign for something; to contend for success.

   Activists fight for better working conditions.

   He fought tirelessly for the rights of tenants.

   UsageUsually fight for a goal or a side: fight for tenants' rights.

   Similarcampaign, strive, struggle, battle, push

   Note

   The Economist in 2014 wrote that Burke continued to fight for liberty, and a campaigner may fight for a party in an election. With for, the object is the goal or the side one backs, never the opponent.

5. 5
   a strugglenouncountable or uncountable

   A conflict, which may be nonphysical, against opposing ideas or forces; strife.

   The fight for equal rights spanned several decades.

   He eventually gave up the fight to save the old theater.

   UsageThe fight against names the opposing force, the fight for the goal. Put up a fight means resist.

   Similarstruggle, battle, campaign, crusade

   Note

   Its prepositions sort the struggles. Against names the opposing force, as in The Economist's 'fight against synthetic drugs' (2013). For names the goal. With can turn inward, as when Margery Allingham's The China Governess (1962) gives a father 'a great fight with his terrible conscience.' Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 3 facts

   • The Economist used the phrase 'fight against synthetic drugs' in 2013. en.wiktionary.org
   • Margery Allingham wrote The China Governess. fadedpage.com
   • The novel contains the quoted description of a father's struggle with his conscience; Munday speaks these words. fadedpage.com
6. 6
   boxing matchnouncountable or uncountable

   A scheduled boxing or martial arts match between two competitors.

   The title fight drew thousands of spectators.

   Both competitors earned a bonus for the fight of the night.

   UsageCommon phrases: a title fight, the big fight, fight night.

   Similarbout, match, contest

   Note

   In boxing and martial arts, the fight is the scheduled event itself. It is usually contested over timed rounds under agreed rules and often settled by knockout, submission or the judges' scorecards. Source

   Checked 2 Nov 2026 · 1 fact

   • These are possible outcomes; a bout can also be decided by disqualification. abcboxing.com
7. 7
   noununcountable

   The willingness or ability to keep fighting.

   Despite the heavy loss, the team showed plenty of fight.

   Years of hardship never took the fight out of him.

   UsageCommon phrases: plenty of fight, no fight left, take the fight out of someone.

   Similarspirit, grit, determination, mettle, pluck

8. 8
   verbintransitive

   To have an angry argument with someone, with words rather than blows.

   Couples who fight about chores are often arguing about something deeper.

   She and her sister fought on the phone for an hour over who would host Thanksgiving.

   Similarargue, quarrel, bicker, squabble

9. 9
   nouncountable

   An angry verbal dispute between people, in which they argue with words instead of using physical force.

   We had a pointless fight over the holiday plans and both said things we later regretted.

   A disagreement about a movie review turned into a nasty fight in the comments section.

   Similarargument, quarrel, row, squabble, dispute

   Note

   Nothing in the word itself says that no one was hit: "they had a fight" fits this meaning and the physical meaning equally well, and only context tells them apart. An argument can stay calm; a fight carries anger. It pairs naturally with have and names its cause with about or over: a silly fight about whose turn it was to cook.

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