combat
Americanverb (used with object)
-
combats,
present (3rd person singular)
-
combated,
past participle, past
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combatted,
past participle, past (especially British)
-
combating,
present participle
-
combatting
present participle (especially British)
verb (used without object)
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combats,
present (3rd person singular)
-
combated,
past participle, past
-
combatted,
past participle, past (especially British)
-
combating,
present participle
-
combatting
present participle (especially British)
noun
-
combats
plural
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Military. active, armed fighting with enemy forces.
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a fight, struggle, or controversy, as between two persons, teams, or ideas.
noun
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a fight, conflict, or struggle
-
-
an action fought between two military forces
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( as modifier )
a combat jacket
-
-
a fight between two individuals; duel
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fighting at close quarters
verb
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(tr) to fight or defy
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(intr; often foll by with or against) to struggle or strive (against); be in conflict (with)
to combat against disease
Usage
What does combat mean? Combat is most commonly used in a military context to refer to active fighting among opposing armies. To engage in combat is to engage in fighting. This kind of combat most commonly takes place on a battlefield or warzone on the ground (called a combat zone). Aerial combat involves fighting in the air among air forces. Hand-to-hand combat involves close fighting, often literally with one’s hands. Combat is often used as a modifier (adjective) in terms that refer to things related to or involving combat, such as combat training, combat medic, combat fatigue, and combat boots. Combat is sometimes used more broadly or figuratively to refer to active conflict between two people or groups, as in The two corporations are preparing to do combat in the courtroom. The term verbal combat refers to fighting with words. Combat is also commonly used as a verb meaning to oppose or work to defeat. It’s especially used when the thing to be defeated is intangible or abstract, as in We need to combat climate change or Our organization works to combat poverty. The figurative senses of the verbs fight and battle are close synonyms of this sense of combat. The sides engaging in combat can be called combatants. The adjective combative means inclined to fight. Example: The objective of basic training is to prepare our soldiers for combat.
Synonym Usage
See fight
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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combaternoun
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intercombatnoun
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precombatnoun
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combatableadjective
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self-combatingadjective
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uncombatableadjective
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uncombatedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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combatsimple
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combatssimple
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have combatedperfect
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have combattedperfect
-
has combatedperfect
-
has combattedperfect
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am combatingprogressive
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am combattingprogressive
-
are combatingprogressive
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are combattingprogressive
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is combatingprogressive
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is combattingprogressive
-
have been combatingperfect progressive
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have been combattingperfect progressive
-
has been combatingperfect progressive
-
has been combattingperfect progressive
Past
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combatedsimple
-
combattedsimple
-
had combatedperfect
-
had combattedperfect
-
was combatingprogressive
-
was combattingprogressive
-
were combatingprogressive
-
were combattingprogressive
-
had been combatingperfect progressive
-
had been combattingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of combat
First recorded in 1535–45; from Middle French combat (noun), combattre (verb), from Late Latin combattere, from Latin com- com- + Late Latin battere, from Latin battuere “to strike, beat”
Explanation
Combat is fighting between two groups of armed forces. When you engage in combat, typically this means you engage in fighting that involves weapons. Combat comes from the Latin com- meaning "together with" and battere meaning "to fight." Combat can be used as a modifier; for example, a combat zone is an area where fighting is taking place. The word combat can also be used to refer to the action of fighting against something to prevent it. An after-school program for kids is working to combat the issue of street violence by creating a safe space where kids can go as an alternative.
Vocabulary lists containing combat
Vocabulary from the Introduction to "Reality is Broken" by Jane McGonigal
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Memorial Day: Words of Respect and Remembrance
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Beowulf vocabulary
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
See Examples For:
Elected in large part because of his early opposition to Mr. Bush’s war, Barack Obama had to send troops back to Iraq to combat the rise of the Islamic State.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 2, 2026
The best way to combat those fears, she said, is for as many people as possible to “show up and exercise their right.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 30, 2026
The Su‑35, he noted, is equipped for both air‑to‑air and air‑to‑ground combat, with the ability to detect and neutralize incoming cruise missiles at distances of up to 200 kilometers.
From BBC ● Oct. 29, 2026
"Just like sugar damage is linked to diet, I'm interested in how the food and beverages we consume can help combat the harmful bacteria and benefit our oral health," Wu said.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 29, 2026
The 369th, popularly known as the Harlem Hellfighters, fought with the French at Château-Thierry and Belleau Wood, spending 191 days in combat, longer than any other American unit.
From "The War to End All Wars: World War I" by Russell Freedman
The company combats these techniques with technology that detects anomalies, such as spotting the same pay stubs being submitted to different lenders by more than one loan applicant.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Dec. 16, 2025
Even as her unsinkable, emotionally complicated boss combats Ava’s efforts to elevate the show at every turn, Ava’s maturation stands out.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2025
Leaders justify the handsome salaries by saying it combats corruption.
From BBC ● Sep. 23, 2024
The proteins' interaction, or pathway, is a well-known target for treating many conditions because Keap1 essentially controls when Nrf2 responds to -- and combats -- oxidative stress.
From Science Daily ● Apr. 25, 2024
Japanese warfare had previously involved single combats between samurai swordsmen, who stood in the open, made ritual speeches, and then took pride in fighting gracefully.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
Experts say the refurbished phone was likely loaded with spyware, and that she could have combated this by restoring factory settings before setting it up.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 9, 2026
Google has also combated the idea that AI will kill its Search business by developing AI Overviews and AI Search.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 12, 2025
"We've always combated those views, and we've always worked with young people - and that's the same for racist views and homophobic views," he says.
From BBC ● Apr. 9, 2025
The Times reported that numerous fire hydrants in higher-elevation streets of the Palisades went dry, leaving crews struggling with low water pressure as they combated the flames.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 11, 2025
In fact, the cyclotron had been working perfectly well with beams far more defocused by imperfections in the magnetic field—those bothersome irregularities combated by shimming—than they would be by the relativistic effects that Bethe posited.
From "Big Science" by Michael Hiltzik
The freight company has combatted a weak shipping economy by controlling costs.
From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2025
They pose a threat that must be taken very seriously and actively combatted.
From Salon ● Aug. 30, 2021
Blinken said in a message sent to all department employees that the vandalism is a painful reminder that antisemitism remains an issue in the U.S. and around the world and must be combatted relentlessly.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 27, 2021
It combatted states’ efforts to treat immigrants like human beings.
From Slate ● Nov. 7, 2020
I combatted those evil habits of hers; I showed her that there must be a certain energy about an accompaniment, that breadth of phrasing was one thing, and meaningless dragging quite another.
From The Serapion Brethren, Vol. I. by Ernst Theodor Wilhelm Hoffmann
Such therapies could potentially target harmful bacteria responsible for human infections, providing a new approach to combating bacterial disease.
From Science Daily ● Oct. 31, 2026
Scientists and policymakers say reducing methane leaks—from oil-and-gas wells, where the gas is the main component of natural gas—is crucial to combating climate change.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 27, 2026
The police investigation was announced at a parliamentary committee meeting in the Cypriot capital, Nicosia, held to discuss the combating and prevention of money laundering.
From BBC ● Oct. 23, 2026
But researchers have repeatedly questioned its effectiveness in combating misinformation.
From Barron's ● Oct. 21, 2026
I can feel my mind immediately combating the body.
From "Every Day" by David Levithan
But if America wants secure aluminum supply chains, combatting unfair trade is necessary but not sufficient.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 23, 2026
Some 175 centres offering services related to combatting gender-based violence have shut down due to a lack of funding in the first six months of this year, affecting 1 million people, according to the UN.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
Automatic license plate readers like Flock cameras were by far the top choice for combatting catalytic converter theft, beating out overtime for investigators and additional training.
From Salon ● Sep. 6, 2026
Colombia's president-elect, de la Espriella, will take office a few days later, having won a similarly razor-thin election on the promise of combatting organised crime.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
She claimed to be an expert in combatting cold weather and in avoiding head colds.
From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
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