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

Around the same time as Duran was duelling with Sugar Ray Leonard in the 1980s, Rolando Blackman, born and raised in Panama City, was becoming an NBA All-Star with the Dallas Mavericks. —Elias Burke, New York Times, 10 June 2026

Inglewood’s digital billboards have sparked a high-stakes showdown between WOW Media and operators of SoFi Stadium, Intuit Dome and the Kia Forum, with dueling initiatives probably headed to voters. —Christopher Damien, Los Angeles Times, 9 June 2026

In its first regional final, La Habra dueled a record-setting SoCal champion with its defense and the pitching of senior Madison Payne. —Dan Albano, Oc Register, 7 June 2026

Their dueling neuroses always worked in comedic concert. —Declan Gallagher, Entertainment Weekly, 6 June 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"