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declare war

idiom

Definition of declare war

: to officially decide to fight or go to war
  • Congress has the power to declare war on/against other countries.
—often used figuratively
  • The state has declared war on illiteracy.

Word by Word Definitions

declare play

  1. : to make known formally, officially, or explicitly

  2. : to make known as a determination

  3. : to make clear

See the full definition of declare
war play

  1. : a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations

  2. : a period of such armed conflict

  3. : state of war

  1. : to be in active or vigorous conflict

  2. : to engage in warfare

  1. : worse

  1. : worst, overcome

See the full definition of war

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