war
1a conflict carried on by force of arms, as between nations or between parties within a nation; warfare, as by land, sea, or air.
a state or period of armed hostility or active military operations: The two nations were at war with each other.
a contest carried on by force of arms, as in a series of battles or campaigns: the War of 1812.
armed fighting, as a science, profession, activity, or art; methods or principles of waging armed conflict: War is the soldier's business.
aggressive business conflict, as through severe price cutting in the same industry or any other means of undermining competitors: a fare war among airlines; a trade war between nations.
a struggle to achieve a goal: the war on cancer;a war against poverty;a war for hearts and minds.
Cards.
a game for two or more persons, played with a 52-card pack evenly divided between the players, in which each player turns up one card at a time with the higher card taking the lower, and in which, when both turned up cards match, each player lays one card face down and turns up another, the player with the higher card of the second turn taking all the cards laid down.
an occasion in this game when both turned up cards match.
Archaic. a battle.
to make or carry on war; fight: to war with a neighboring nation.
to carry on active hostility or contention: Throughout her life she warred with sin and corruption.
to be in conflict or in a state of strong opposition: The temptation warred with his conscience.
of, belonging to, used in, or due to war: war preparations; war hysteria.
Origin of war
1Words that may be confused with war
- war , wore
Other definitions for war (2 of 3)
worse.
Origin of war
2Other definitions for war. (3 of 3)
warrant.
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2024
How to use war in a sentence
I just recently rewatched all six Star Wars movies the other day… Oh wow, from the beginning?
Patton Oswalt on Fighting Conservatives With Satire | William O’Connor | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTAre you excited, nervous, afraid, all of the above for the new Star Wars films?
Patton Oswalt on Fighting Conservatives With Satire | William O’Connor | January 6, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTOnly one other Star Wars film has earned a PG-13 rating, the 2005 prequel Star Wars Episode III: Revenge of the Sith.
Juiciest ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Rumors (and Some Debunked Ones) | Rich Goldstein | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTAaron Paul may play a young Han Solo in the first Star Wars spin-off.
Juiciest ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Rumors (and Some Debunked Ones) | Rich Goldstein | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEASTAn examination of some of the rumors surrounding the newest entry in the Star Wars canon.
Juiciest ‘Star Wars: The Force Awakens’ Rumors (and Some Debunked Ones) | Rich Goldstein | January 3, 2015 | THE DAILY BEAST
They have fought countless bloody wars and have committed countless horrible atrocities in their zeal for Him.
God and my Neighbour | Robert BlatchfordHe was distinguished in the wars of his country by several important victories.
The Every Day Book of History and Chronology | Joel MunsellThe years that followed the close of the Napoleonic wars in 1815 were in many senses years of unexampled misery.
The Unsolved Riddle of Social Justice | Stephen LeacockJean Lannes had already had a taste of the soldier's life before the outbreak of the revolutionary wars.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-PattisonMeanwhile he wrote an impassioned letter to Napoleon urging him to seek no more wars of conquest.
Napoleon's Marshals | R. P. Dunn-Pattison
British Dictionary definitions for war (1 of 2)
/ (wɔː) /
open armed conflict between two or more parties, nations, or states: Related adjectives: belligerent, martial
a particular armed conflict: the 1973 war in the Middle East
the techniques of armed conflict as a study, science, or profession
any conflict or contest: a war of wits; the war against crime
(modifier) of, relating to, resulting from, or characteristic of war: a war hero; war damage; a war story
to have had a good war to have made the most of the opportunities presented to one during wartime
in the wars informal (esp of a child) hurt or knocked about, esp as a result of quarrelling and fighting
(intr) to conduct a war
Origin of war
1British Dictionary definitions for War. (2 of 2)
Warwickshire
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with war
In addition to the idioms beginning with war
- ward off
- war horse
- war of nerves
also see:
- all's fair in love and war
- at war
- been to the wars
- declare war
- tug of war
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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