fight back
phrasal verb
fought back; fighting back; fights back
1
: to attack or try to defeat someone who is attacking or trying to defeat oneself
We can't just let them make these accusations against us. We need to fight back!
2
: to make a new effort against an opponent
They fell behind early in the game, but they were able to fight back and tie the score in the second half.
Examples of fight back in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
Congress has been trying to crack down on data brokers — and the data brokers are fighting back.
—
Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 5 Apr. 2024
One side can unilaterally initiate hostilities, as Russia did, but war would not occur unless the other side chooses to fight back.
—Branislav L. Slantchev, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2024
As the GOP’s censorship efforts have swept across the country, Democratic lawmakers have attempted to fight back with anti-book ban bills.
—Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 1 Apr. 2024
Orr's daughter, 38-year-old Holly Marrocco, tells PEOPLE that her dad has experienced progression of his Parkinson's in the 10 years since his diagnosis, but continues to fight back against the neurodegenerative disorder by taking boxing classes and working out every morning.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 31 Mar. 2024
And if attacked, stand and face the animal to avoid being bitten on the head or neck and fight back with rocks, sticks, caps, jackets, garden tools or bare hands.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2024
The pandemic and the boorish political and public discourse that followed drove us inward, unable to fight back, going nuts like poor Vanya.
—Jon Robin Baitz, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
The film stars Boutella as a former soldier who recruits warriors across the universe to fight back against the evil Imperium when her farming colony is threatened.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024
The Aggies fought back, and a last-second jumper sent the game to overtime.
—Trisha Garcia-Easto, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024
Gaby Del Valle, The Verge, 5 Apr. 2024
One side can unilaterally initiate hostilities, as Russia did, but war would not occur unless the other side chooses to fight back.
—Branislav L. Slantchev, Foreign Affairs, 1 Apr. 2024
As the GOP’s censorship efforts have swept across the country, Democratic lawmakers have attempted to fight back with anti-book ban bills.
—Rayna Reid Rayford, Essence, 1 Apr. 2024
Orr's daughter, 38-year-old Holly Marrocco, tells PEOPLE that her dad has experienced progression of his Parkinson's in the 10 years since his diagnosis, but continues to fight back against the neurodegenerative disorder by taking boxing classes and working out every morning.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 31 Mar. 2024
And if attacked, stand and face the animal to avoid being bitten on the head or neck and fight back with rocks, sticks, caps, jackets, garden tools or bare hands.
—Teresa Watanabe, Los Angeles Times, 24 Mar. 2024
The pandemic and the boorish political and public discourse that followed drove us inward, unable to fight back, going nuts like poor Vanya.
—Jon Robin Baitz, New York Times, 21 Mar. 2024
The film stars Boutella as a former soldier who recruits warriors across the universe to fight back against the evil Imperium when her farming colony is threatened.
—Zack Sharf, Variety, 13 Mar. 2024
The Aggies fought back, and a last-second jumper sent the game to overtime.
—Trisha Garcia-Easto, Sacramento Bee, 25 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'fight back.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near fight back
Cite this Entry
“Fight back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fight%20back. Accessed 19 Apr. 2024.
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