fight

Meanings

1. 1verbtransitive or intransitive

   To use force against another person or group in a physical struggle, or to take part in such a struggle.

   Grammar: Can take an object: fight the attacker; or stand alone: they refused to fight.

   Patterns

   • fight someone
   • fight with someone
   • fight over something

   Two players were sent off after they started to fight near the goal.

   She learned how to fight an attacker and escape safely.

   The children fight over the last piece of cake.

2. 2verbintransitiveinformal

   To quarrel angrily with words rather than physical blows.

   Grammar: No object; often about the reason: fight about money.

   Patterns

   • fight about something
   • fight with someone about something

   They fight about housework every weekend.

   I hate hearing neighbors fight through the wall.

3. 3verbtransitive or intransitivefigurative

   To work hard against a problem, illness, danger, or unfair system.

   Grammar: May take a noun object: fight disease; or use against/for: fight against corruption.

   Patterns

   • fight against something
   • fight for something
   • fight something

   Doctors are trying to fight the outbreak with clean water and vaccines.

   Residents fought for years to save the old library.

   She decided to fight the decision in court.

4. 4nouncountable

   An act of fighting, whether physical, verbal, or a difficult effort to achieve or resist something.

   Grammar: Countable: a fight, many fights; plural is fights.

   Patterns

   • a fight against something
   • a fight for something
   • have a fight

   The fight lasted only a few seconds before teachers arrived.

   Their fight for better pay finally succeeded.

   We had a stupid fight about whose turn it was to cook.

Word forms

Common combinations

fight back

When criticized, he tried to fight back instead of listening.

fight for survival

After the flood, the small farm faced a daily fight for survival.

fight off infection

Rest and fluids help the body fight off infection.

a fair fight

The referee stopped the match because it was no longer a fair fight.

Synonyms and how they differ

struggle

Struggle is broader and often less violent, fitting effort against hardship better than a physical fight.

combat

Combat is more formal and military, and usually implies organized armed conflict.

quarrel

Quarrel fits angry words, not physical blows.

battle

Battle can be literal or figurative, but suggests a larger or longer conflict than a simple fight.

Opposites

Word family

fighter noun

A person who fights; also a determined person or a combat aircraft.

fighting noun

The activity of fighting, especially violence between groups.

Commonly confused: fight or flight? fight or ignite?

Practice

Make it your own

Write a sentence using “fight”, then check it and compare it with the examples above.

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