DictionaryAI

fight

FYT/faɪt/

Verbfights, fighting, fought

Noun pluralfights

12 meanings of fight

Practice

  1. 1
    verbtransitive or intransitive
    To use force or weapons against someone, or to take part in a battle or war.

    Like carrying on a long struggle until it is over.

    Soldiers fight wars far from home.

    The two armies fought for three days near the river.

    UsageSay fight a war or fight an enemy.

    Similarbattle, wage, combat, engage

    Note
  2. 2
    violent clashnouncountable or uncountable
    A struggle in which two or more people or groups hit or attack each other.

    Like two cats hissing and swatting at each other.

    A fight broke out between two boys on the playground.

    The fight in the parking lot lasted only a few seconds.

    UsageSay get into a fight or start a fight.

    Similarbrawl, scuffle, clash, fracas, scrap

  3. 3
    try to stopverbtransitive
    To work hard to stop or beat something.

    Like your body working to push out a cold.

    Doctors fight the disease with new medicines.

    Firefighters fought the flames all night.

    UsageSay fight a fire, an illness, or a feeling.

    Similarcombat, tackle, battle, counteract, resist

    Note
  4. 4
    strive forverbintransitive
    To work hard and keep trying to win or reach a goal.

    Like pushing forward to reach the top of a hill.

    We must fight for what we believe in.

    She fought hard to get the scholarship.

    UsageSay fight for something you want.

    Similarcampaign, strive, struggle, battle, push

    Note
  5. 5
    a strugglenouncountable or uncountable
    A struggle against people, ideas, or forces that you stand against.

    Like a long push to change something you think is wrong.

    The fight for clean water united the whole village.

    Her fight against the new law took years.

    UsageSay the fight against a disease or the fight for rights.

    Similarstruggle, battle, campaign, crusade

    Note
  6. 6
    boxing matchnouncountable or uncountable
    A boxing or martial arts match between two people.

    Like a planned match where two people box or wrestle by the rules.

    The fight ended in the third round.

    He trained for months before the big fight.

    UsageOften a title fight: a match for a championship.

    Similarbout, match, contest

    Note
  7. 7
    noununcountable
    The energy and desire to keep fighting or trying.

    Like the energy inside you that won't let you give up.

    There was still plenty of fight left in the old dog.

    She showed real fight when things got hard.

    UsageSay someone has plenty of fight or no fight left.

    Similarspirit, grit, determination, mettle, pluck

  8. 8
    verbintransitive
    To argue with someone in an angry way, using words and not hitting.

    My little brother and I always fight over which show to watch.

    They were fighting about whose turn it was to wash the dishes.

    Similarargue, quarrel, bicker, squabble

  9. 9
    nouncountable
    An angry argument between people that uses words, not hitting or other violence.

    My parents had a loud fight about money, and I could hear them yelling from my room.

    After their fight on the phone, Maya felt sorry for the mean things she said.

    Similarargument, quarrel, row, squabble, dispute

    Note

Less common meanings

  1. 10
    mismatch (colors)verbintransitive
    Of colors or designs, to look bad together because they do not match.

    Like two loud songs playing at once that don't sound good together.

    These two bright colors fight with each other.

    The orange curtains and pink rug fought in that small room.

    Similarclash, jar

    Oppositeharmonize, match, blend

    Note
  2. 11
    pit animalsverbcausativetransitive
    To make animals fight, or to handle and direct something during a battle.

    Like a coach moving players around to win a game.

    In the old days, men would fight roosters for money.

    In many places it is illegal to fight dogs for money.

    Similarpit, handle

    Note
  3. 12
    nounobsoletecountable or uncountable
    A screen put up on a ship to protect the crew during battle.
    Note

Practice

Can you tell the meanings of fight apart? Answer 3 quick questions from this page, or write your own sentence and AI will check it.

Origins

Meanings 1, 3–4, 8–11

From Old English feohtan, meaning 'to fight'. It goes back to an old root meaning 'to comb or shear'.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts

  • Fight descends from Old English feohtan, meaning 'to fight'. en.wiktionary.org
  • Fight ultimately derives from a reconstructed root meaning 'to comb or shear'. en.wiktionary.org
Meanings 2, 5–7, 12

From Old English feoht, meaning 'a fight or struggle'.

Checked 31 Oct 2026 · 2 facts