fight

verb

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\ ˈfīt

fought\ ˈfȯt

\; fighting

Definition of fight

(Entry 1 of 2)

intransitive verb

1a : to contend in battle or physical combat especially : to strive to overcome a person by blows or weapons The soldiers fought bravely.

b : to engage in boxing He will fight for the heavyweight title next month.

2 : to put forth a determined effort They were fighting to stay awake.

transitive verb

1a(1) : to contend against in or as if in battle or physical combat fought the invaders of his homeland was fighting a forest fire

(2) : to box against in the ring fought several strong contenders

b(1) : to attempt to prevent the success or effectiveness of the company fought the takeover attempt

(2) : to oppose the passage or development of fight a bill in Congress

2a : wage, carry on fight a battle

b : to take part in (a boxing match or similar contest)

3 : to struggle to endure or surmount fight a cold is fighting cancer

4a : to gain by struggle fights his way through

b : to resolve by struggle fought out their differences in court

5a : to manage (a ship) in a battle or storm

b : to cause to struggle or contend

c : to manage in an unnecessarily rough or awkward manner

fight shy of

: to avoid facing or meeting

fight

noun

Definition of fight (Entry 2 of 2)

1a : a hostile encounter : battle, combat

b : a boxing match

c : a verbal disagreement : argument

2 : a struggle for a goal or an objective a fight for justice

3 : strength or disposition for fighting : pugnacity still full of fight

Synonyms More Example Sentences Phrases Containing fight Learn More About fight

Examples of fight in a Sentence

Verb When he was young he was always fighting. He fought like a tiger. The U.S. and Germany fought in World Wars I and II. They vowed to fight the invaders of their homeland. The U.S. fought Germany in World Wars I and II. He and his wife are always fighting over money. We were fighting to protect our jobs. Noun A fight broke out in the bar. When he was young he was always getting into fights. He got into another fight with his wife about money. a fight for the heavyweight title See More

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb Biden aside, the party more broadly didn’t fight too hard for Schrader. — Aaron Blake, Anchorage Daily News, 18 May 2022 This legislation will fight deforestation and help conserve carbon sinks around the world. — Baltimore Sun, 18 May 2022 By law, Sarah and her clone must eventually fight each other to the death. — Rodney Ho, ajc, 15 May 2022 While Bobbi flirts with Melissa, Frances and Nick fight to resist their mutual attraction — unsuccessfully. — Matthew Gilbert, BostonGlobe.com, 11 May 2022 Bivol could fight the winner for the division’s unification. — Los Angeles Times, 8 May 2022 Oliveira will still fight Gaethje, but only Gaethje will be eligible to win the championship. — Troy L. Smith, cleveland, 7 May 2022 To fight not for Justice Ginsburg, but for my daughters, your sons, your communities. — Alexis Mcgill Johnson, ELLE, 4 May 2022 The tobacco companies will fight the ban by trying to shore up their dwindling support from African American leaders. — Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 29 Apr. 2022 Recent Examples on the Web: Noun Urvashi Vaid, a lawyer and activist who was a leading figure in the fight for LGBTQ equality for more than four decades, died on Saturday in Manhattan. — Clay Risen, BostonGlobe.com, 21 May 2022 The deal spotlights a complicated dilemma in the fight for equal pay. — Glamour, 20 May 2022 It's led to heated debates about whether children are being taught about the long history of racial oppression and the fight for equality in schools. — Kiara Alfonseca, ABC News, 19 May 2022 Though Moscow has now won the fight for Mariupol, its long siege has emerged as a symbol of the grinding road ahead for Russia’s military. — Los Angeles Times, 19 May 2022 After a yearslong fight for equal pay, U.S. Soccer and the women’s and men’s national teams have announced a historic collective bargaining agreement to close the gender pay gap and assure every player, man or woman, is paid equally. — Marlene Lenthang, NBC News, 18 May 2022 Urvashi Vaid, a lawyer and activist who was a leading figure in the fight for L.G.B.T.Q. equality for more than four decades, died on Saturday in Manhattan. — New York Times, 17 May 2022 Talking about the need for the working-man to be enlisted in the fight for freedom and democracy around the world. — Jay Nordlinger, National Review, 17 May 2022 The candidates who emerge from North Carolina's major party primaries for U.S. Senate will be on the frontline in the fight for control over the upper chamber. — Orlando Mayorquin, USA TODAY, 17 May 2022 See More

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