First Known Use: before 12th century
Dictionary
1fight
verb \ˈfīt\
: to use weapons or physical force to try to hurt someone, to defeat an enemy, etc. : to struggle in battle or physical combat
: to be involved in (a battle, struggle, etc.)
: to argue in an angry way
fought \ˈfȯt\ fight·ing
Full Definition of FIGHT
intransitive verb
1
a : to contend in battle or physical combat; especially : to strive to overcome a person by blows or weapons b : to engage in boxing
2
: to put forth a determined effort
transitive verb
1
a (1) : to contend against in or as if in battle or physical combat (2) : to box against in the ring b (1) : to attempt to prevent the success or effectiveness of <the company fought the takeover attempt> (2) : to oppose the passage or development of <fight a bill in Congress>
3
: to struggle to endure or surmount <fight a cold>
4
a : to gain by struggle <fights his way through> b : to resolve by struggle <fought out their differences in court>
5
a : to manage (a ship) in a battle or storm b : to cause to struggle or contend c : to manage in an unnecessarily rough or awkward manner
— fight shy of
: to avoid facing or meeting
See fight defined for English-language learners
See fight defined for kids
ADVERTISEMENT
Origin of FIGHT
Middle English, from Old English feohtan; akin to Old High German fehtan to fight and perhaps to Latin pectere to comb — more at pectinate
Related to FIGHT
- Synonyms
- battle, clash (with), combat, scrimmage (with), skirmish (with), war (against)
2fight
noun
: a violent physical struggle between opponents
: an argument or quarrel
: a boxing match
Full Definition of FIGHT
2
: a struggle for a goal or an objective <a fight for justice>
See fight defined for English-language learners
First Known Use of FIGHT
before 12th century
Related to FIGHT
FIGHT SHY OF Defined for Kids
1fight
verb \ˈfīt\
fought \ˈfȯt\fight·ing
Definition of FIGHT for Kids
1
: to struggle in battle or in physical combat
2
: to argue angrily : quarrel
3
: to try hard <She fought to stay awake.>
4
: to struggle against <fight discrimination>
— fight·er noun
2fight
noun
Definition of FIGHT for Kids
1
: a meeting in battle or in physical combat
2
: 1quarrel 1
3
: strength or desire for fighting <After being wrongly blamed, I was full of fight.>
Learn More About FIGHT
Browse
ADVERTISEMENT
Seen & Heard
What made you want to look up fight? Please tell us where you read or heard it (including the quote, if possible).