often attributive
1
a(1)
: a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations
(2)
: a period of such armed conflict
(3)
b
: the art or science of warfare
c(1)
obsolete
: weapons and equipment for war
(2)
archaic
: soldiers armed and equipped for war
2
a
: a state of hostility, conflict, or antagonism
b
: a struggle or competition between opposing forces or for a particular end
a class war
a war against disease
c
warred; warring
Synonyms
Examples of war in a Sentence
Noun
They fought a war over the disputed territory.
A war broke out when the colonists demanded their independence.
We need to resolve our conflicts without resorting to war.
People behave differently during a time of war.
The taking of American hostages was seen as an act of war by the United States.
the budget wars in Washington
Verb (1)
continually warring against their neighbors in an effort to expand their territory
Recent Examples on the Web
Aishwarya S Iyer, CNN, 19 Aug. 2024
An aspiring politician’s war against ‘anti-child ideology’ Vance, who wrote a bestseller about his working-class upbringing, has been clear about making family formation a policy priority.
—Adriana Gomez Licon, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2024
Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2024
The drummer who did the best job filling Chamberlin’s big shoes, however, may be Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee, who would’ve been an unthinkable choice back in the ‘90s when hair metal and alternative rock felt like warring tribes.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 17 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for war 
Noun
The remarks appeared to be his most critical comments to date against Russia’s war in Ukraine.
—Aishwarya S Iyer, CNN, 19 Aug. 2024
An aspiring politician’s war against ‘anti-child ideology’ Vance, who wrote a bestseller about his working-class upbringing, has been clear about making family formation a policy priority.
—Adriana Gomez Licon, Los Angeles Times, 18 Aug. 2024
Verb
John Kerry lost to the incumbent President, George W. Bush, a few months later; the most resonant surviving image of that night in Boston is of the talented Black newcomer, softening America’s warring cultural archetypes in search of a new synthesis.
—Vinson Cunningham, The New Yorker, 21 Aug. 2024
The drummer who did the best job filling Chamberlin’s big shoes, however, may be Motley Crue’s Tommy Lee, who would’ve been an unthinkable choice back in the ‘90s when hair metal and alternative rock felt like warring tribes.
—Al Shipley, SPIN, 17 Aug. 2024
See all Example Sentences for war
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'war.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Dictionary Entries Near war
Cite this Entry
“War.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/war. Accessed 9 Sep. 2024.
Copy CitationKids Definition
war
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a state or period of armed hostile conflict between states, nations, or groups
b
: the science of warfare
2
a
: a state of hostility, antagonism, or conflict
b
: a struggle between opposing forces or for a particular goal
a war on disease
war
2 of 2 verb
warred; warring
1
: to engage in warfare
warring nations
2
: to be in conflict
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