duelling or dueling

Meanings

1. 1noununcountable

   The activity of fighting a formal duel, especially with swords or pistols.

   Grammar: Used as an uncountable noun: 'Duelling was banned.' It does not usually take 'a' or a plural.

   Patterns

   • duelling was banned
   • the practice of duelling
   • a history of duelling

   Duelling was once a common way for gentlemen to settle disputes.

   The museum has an exhibition about the history of duelling in Europe.

   Laws against duelling gradually ended the practice in the nineteenth century.

2. 2adjectivebefore a noun

   Relating to a duel or to fighting in a duel.

   Grammar: Comes before a noun: 'duelling pistols'; it is not usually used after a verb.

   Patterns

   • duelling pistols
   • a duelling sword
   • duelling scars

   The antique shop sold a pair of duelling pistols.

   He had a duelling scar on his cheek from his student days.

   The film features a dramatic duelling scene.

3. 3verbintransitive

   The present participle of 'duel', meaning fighting a formal duel or competing closely with someone.

   Grammar: Used in continuous tenses or as a participle: 'They were duelling.' In American English, spell it 'dueling'.

   Patterns

   • be duelling with someone
   • be duelling for something

   The two men were duelling at dawn outside the city walls.

   The companies are duelling for control of the market.

Common combinations

duelling pistols

The collector kept a pair of duelling pistols in a glass case.

duelling ban

The government introduced a duelling ban in the 1800s.

duelling scars

Old duelling scars were once seen as a mark of honor.

duelling society

He joined a duelling society at university.

duelling scene

The duelling scene in the movie was filmed at sunrise.

Synonyms and how they differ

dueling

This is the American spelling of the same word; use it in US texts.

fighting

A general word for physical conflict; 'duelling' is narrower and refers to a formal, rule-based fight.

combat

'Combat' usually refers to military fighting, while 'duelling' refers to a personal, often historical, contest.

Opposites

Word family

duel noun

A formal fight between two people, usually with weapons.

duel verb

To fight a formal duel or compete closely with someone.

duellist noun

A person who fights duels; spelled 'duelist' in American English.

Commonly confused: duelling or dueling or dual? duelling or dueling or duet?

Practice

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