duel

verb

dueled or duelled; dueling or duelling

intransitive verb

: to fight a duel

transitive verb

: to encounter (an opponent) in a duel

dueler noun

or dueller

duelist noun

or duellist

ˈd(y)ü-ə-list 

Examples of duel in a Sentence

He accepted the challenge to duel.

Legislators dueled over the tax increases.

The two runners dueled for the lead.

Recent Examples on the Web

Turin engaged in dueling chants for Ruca and Lynch. —Alfred Konuwa, Forbes.com, 31 May 2026

Redemption seemed to be in the cool, evening air at Deanna Manning Stadium as JSerra dueled La Mirada. —Dan Albano, Oc Register, 30 May 2026

Koeninger and Rockwall starter Blake Phillips were dueling pitch for pitch for the first six and a half innings, but the Indians finally got to Phillips in the bottom of the sixth. —Darren Lauber, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 May 2026

The two pitchers dueled 19 days earlier, too, with the Bengals prevailing 2-1, although Yorkville (28-10) went on to win the Southwest Prairie Conference title. —Rick Armstrong, Chicago Tribune, 27 May 2026

Word History

First Known Use

circa 1645, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense

Rhymes for duel

• accrual
• nonfuel
• refuel
• renewal
• biofuel
• contextual
• nonrenewal
• nonsexual
• unusual
• cruel
• dual
• fuel

Kids Definition

duel

1 of 2 noun

du·​el ˈd(y)ü-əl 

1

: a combat between two persons

especially : one fought with weapons in the presence of witnesses

2

: a conflict between two opponents

duel

2 of 2 verb

dueled or duelled; dueling or duelling

: to fight in a duel

dueler noun

or dueller

duelist noun

or duellist

ˈd(y)ü-ə-ləst 

Etymology

from Latin duellum "duel," from an archaic form of earlier bellum "war"; revived in the Middle Ages to mean combat between two persons because the du- suggested Latin duo "two"