brawl

verb \ ˈbrȯl \

|Updated on: 2 Aug 2018

Examples: brawl in a Sentence

Definition of brawl

brawled; brawling; brawls

intransitive verb

1 : to quarrel or fight noisily : wrangle

soccer fans brawling in the streets

2 : to make a loud confused noise

the Miami river … brawled over 25 feet of rapids
—Marjory S. Douglas

—

brawler

noun

See brawl defined for English-language learners

See brawl defined for kids

Examples of brawl in a Sentence

Fans were brawling in the streets after the game.
the Wilsons were always loudly brawling, and the neighbors were always shutting their windows

Recent Examples of brawl from the Web

By brawling with America’s friends, critics say, Trump has squandered an opportunity to build a united front against China.

— paul wiseman, The Seattle Times, "What you need to know about the upcoming U.S.-China tariffs," 2 July 2018
Andrew Johnson and Bill Clinton are the only presidents to have endured one—threatening impeachment has become as commonplace in America’s hyper-polarised system as brawling in the Taiwanese parliament.

— The Economist, "The case against impeachment," 12 July 2018
The two sides began brawling in the streets before the rally got underway, throwing punches, unleashing chemical sprays and setting off smoke bombs.

— Washington Post, "Lawsuit resolution could thwart Charlottesville violence," 12 July 2018
Two North Carolina girls’ softball teams are now banned from future tournaments after their parents and fans were caught brawling over apparently questionable calls made by an umpire.

— greg norman, Fox News, "North Carolina girls' softball teams banned from events after parents caught brawling at tournament," 19 June 2018
Imagine Joe Maddon and Clint Hurdle brawling at third base.

— paul sullivan, chicagotribune.com, "Brewers' return to South Side rekindles memories of a once-heated rivalry," 1 June 2018
Fans of soccer teams Leyendas De Las Chivas and Leyendas De La America began brawling before the high-profile soccer match started Saturday afternoon, said Sgt.

— molly sullivan, sacbee, "Man stabbed, others injured as hundreds brawl at Lodi soccer game," 11 June 2018
Wanting to see that happen more than most were the diehard followers, the hooligans, both in Britain and in the rest of Europe, whose brawling tarnished the game.

— leo robson, The New Yorker, "How We Watch Soccer Now," 5 Dec. 2016
Upset, the suspect followed them inside and started brawling with the man who owns the trailer.

— keri blakinger, Houston Chronicle, "Man shot in face after drunken dispute in SE Harris County trailer," 17 June 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'brawl.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

Origin and Etymology of brawl

Middle English brawlen, brallen, of uncertain origin

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 15th century

in the meaning defined at sense 1

See Words from the same year

brawl Synonyms

Phrases

bandy words, butt heads, lock horns, mix it up;

brawl

noun

Definition of brawl

1 : a noisy quarrel or fight

a brawl broke out among the fans

a barroom brawl

2 : a loud tumultuous noise

the spring run became quite a trout brook and its tiny murmur a loud brawl
—John Burroughs

Examples of brawl in a Sentence

they were thrown out of the party after starting a brawl
the student drama society's decision to put on the controversial play prompted a brawl at the school board meeting

Recent Examples of brawl from the Web

Sunday’s game at Langston High School involving teams from Georgia and Texas allegedly erupted into a brawl after Jamiah Gregory, 13, was fouled hard, Fulton County Schools said in a statement.

— zachary hansen, ajc, "Brawl at AAU girls basketball game leaves 13-year-old from Cobb with concussion," 28 June 2018
The picnic may have devolved into a gigantic brawl considering how high tensions are running in Congress.

— chad pergram, Fox News, "Immigration fight is no picnic: Reps brawl, Dems jeer and cops search for Trump-accosting intern," 21 June 2018
In Seattle, a post about a dog’s bad reaction to some kind of cannon that was sounded during Seahawks football games led to an online dispute, and a neighborhood meeting at a library to talk it out erupted into a brawl.

— ian bogost, The Atlantic, "What Petty Nextdoor Posts Reveal About America," 20 June 2018
The Yankees and Red Sox have split six games, dating to an April series that included a bench-clearing brawl and four ejections, prompted by the actions of Tyler Austin and Joe Kelly.

— john shea, San Francisco Chronicle, "What Giants and Dodgers are missing and Yankees and Red Sox have," 11 May 2018
Baumann allowed five runs – two earned – in 1/3 of an inning in his lone big league appearance, which followed a benches-clearing brawl in Colorado.

— jeff sanders, sandiegouniontribune.com, "First pitch: Spangenberg optioned as Hosmer returns," 27 Apr. 2018
On Wednesday night at Fenway, the teams got into a zesty, bench-clearing brawl—pushing, shoving, and taking swings like old, Pedro vs. Zimmer times.

— jason gay, WSJ, "Uh-Oh. The Yankees and Red Sox Hate Each Other Again," 12 Apr. 2018
That was Boston pitcher Joe Kelly's excuse after his fastball drilled Yankees first baseman Tyler Austin in the ribs during Wednesday night's game at Fenway Park and started a benches-clearing brawl.

— pete grathoff, kansascity, "Former Royals player was punched in the head during Yankees-Red Sox brawl | The Kansas City Star," 12 Apr. 2018
Tyler Austin rushed the mound after being hit by a pitch from Red Sox reliever Joe Kelly, triggering a bench-clearing brawl in a ramped-up rivalry as the New York Yankees ended Boston's nine-game winning streak with a 10-7 victory Wednesday night.

— kyle hightower, baltimoresun.com, "Yankees, Red Sox fight at Fenway as New York ends Boston's nine-game winning streak, 10-7," 11 Apr. 2018