battle

1 of 2

verb (1)

battled; battling

ˈbat-liŋ, 

ˈba-tᵊl-iŋ  ; battles

intransitive verb

1

: to engage in combat between individuals or armed forces : to engage in battle : fight

battling for control of the bridge

2

: to contend with full strength, vigor, skill, or resources : struggle

They battled to keep their son out of jail.

battling over how to spend the money

transitive verb

1

: to fight or struggle against

battling cancer

two teams set to battle each other for the championship

battling it out in the courtroom

2

: to force, thrust, or drive by battling

battling his way through the crowd

battler

ˈbat-lər, 

ˈba-tᵊl-ər 

noun

plural battlers

… will no doubt continue to be the Senate's boldest battler for … justice …

—John Nichols

… a player who sweats: a fighter, a battler, a tireless worker who never stops.

—Sam Borden

see also:

battle it out

battle

2 of 2

verb (2)

battled; battling; battles

transitive verb

archaic

: to fortify with battlements

… beneath the battled tower.

—Alfred Tennyson

Synonyms of battle

Verb (1)

• compete
• fight
• race
• contend

Examples of battle in a Sentence

Verb (1)

the two teams, which have long been archrivals, will battle on the court for the state championship

the two top-seeded tennis players battled each other for almost three hours

the two armies battled each other for control of the bridge

we must battle hunger and poverty wherever they exist

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Japan has long been battling a growing bear problem with deadly attacks reached record levels last fall. —Jessie Yeung, CNN Money, 9 June 2026

Despite the Fever opening up a sizable lead at that point, the Mystics battled back, whittling it down to just two points halfway through the fourth and one point with a minute remaining. —Ian Miller, FOXNews.com, 9 June 2026

The shooter-style game follows an elite unit of soldiers — known as Helldivers — who battle alien creatures that are threatening to destroy the fictional planet of Super Earth. —Pat Saperstein, Variety, 9 June 2026

Kayode Awosika will be at left guard, although second-round draft pick Jake Slaughter will battle him during training camp starting next month. —Elliott Teaford, Oc Register, 8 June 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb (1)

Middle English bataillen, borrowed from Anglo-French batailler, verbal derivative of bataille battle entry 1

Verb (2)

Middle English batailen, from Anglo-French bataillier to fortify with battlements, from Old French batailles battlemented tower, probably from plural of bataille battle

First Known Use

Verb (1)

14th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Verb (2)

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing battle

• battle-ax
• battle-axe
• battle/clash of wills
• battle cruiser
• battle cry
• battle dress uniform
• battle fatigue
• battle flag
• battle it out
• battle line
• battle of the sexes
• battle of wits
• battle rope
• battle royal
• battle royale
• custody battle
• do battle
• field of battle
• fight a losing battle
• half the battle
• in battle
• in the heat of (the) battle
• join battle
• order of battle
• pitched battle
• pre-battle
• running battle
• trial by battle
• uphill battle

Rhymes for battle

• battel
• brattle
• cattle
• chattel
• prattle
• rattle
• tattle
• striatal

Kids Definition

battle

1 of 2 noun

bat·​tle ˈbat-ᵊl 

1

: a fight between two persons

trial by battle

2

: a fight between armies, warships, or airplanes

3

: a long or hard struggle or contest

a battle of wits

battle

2 of 2 verb

battled; battling ˈbat-liŋ 

-ᵊl-iŋ

1

: to engage in battle

2

: contend sense 2, struggle

battle for a cause

3

: to fight against

battling a forest fire

battler

-lər 

-ᵊl-ər

noun