to the death

idiom

1
: until someone is dead
The warriors would fight to the death.
a battle to the death
2
: with all of one's energy and effort
Some parents do not want the school to be closed, and say they'll fight to the death for it.

Examples of to the death in a Sentence

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Its name is derived from Japanese folklore, specifically a ritual in which insects fight to the death after being sealed in a jar. Randall Colburn, Entertainment Weekly, 14 Nov. 2025 The theater itself is set up like an arena, with the show performed in the round and all seats raised above it — as if the audience is truly watching children fight to the death live. Ellise Shafer, Variety, 13 Nov. 2025 Those convictions are all related to the death of 6-year-old Natalie Garcia, who had been adopted by Crystina and her husband in 2019 and went missing in 2020. Chris Spargo, PEOPLE, 12 Nov. 2025 That may include opposition to the death penalty and support for social programs, such as food and housing assistance. Anne Whitesell, The Conversation, 10 Nov. 2025 See All Example Sentences for to the death

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Cite this Entry

“To the death.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/to%20the%20death. Accessed 25 Nov. 2025.

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