Meaning & use
dogfight
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Meanings
nouncountable
A close, fast-moving combat between fighter aircraft.
Grammar: Countable: a dogfight, two dogfights.
Patterns
- a dogfight between planes
- engage in a dogfight
- during a dogfight
The pilot described the dogfight as terrifying and thrilling.
During the dogfight, both planes maneuvered for position.
He was shot down in a dogfight over the channel.
nouncountablefigurative
Any fierce, closely contested struggle or competition.
Grammar: Often used figuratively for business, politics, or sports.
Patterns
- a dogfight for something
- a dogfight between rivals
- enter a dogfight
The election turned into a dogfight in the final week.
There was a dogfight for the last remaining seats.
The two companies are in a dogfight for market share.
Word forms
| plural | dogfights |
|---|
Common combinations
- aerial dogfight
- The movie features a dramatic aerial dogfight.
- political dogfight
- The bill survived a political dogfight.
- dogfight for control
- The family was in a dogfight for control of the business.
- dogfight between
- The dogfight between the two teams went into overtime.
Synonyms and how they differ
Word family
- dogfighting noun
- The activity of fighting at close range, especially in the air.
Practice
Which sentence uses 'dogfight' in its figurative sense?
Choose one answer.
The figurative sense refers to a fierce competition, as in the startup example. The other options describe actual aerial combat.
Make it your own
Write a sentence using “dogfight”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.