at war

Idioms  

1. Engaged in armed conflict; also, in a state of disagreement. This term may be used literally, usually of nations or smaller groups engaged in armed hostilities, as well as hyperbolically, describing a mild disagreement as “war,” and figuratively, for an inner conflict. For example, The Greeks and Turks have been at war for many years (literally); The two families were at war about the bill for the wedding reception (hyperbolic); and, as Shakespeare put it in Measure for Measure (2:2): “I am at war 'twixt will and will not” (inner conflict of indecision). [Late 1300s]

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Example Sentences

He is the author of a historical novel, “No Country for Love,” and of three books of narrative nonfiction: “Faith at War,” “The Siege of Mecca” and “Our Enemies Will Vanish,” which was a finalist for the Orwell Prize.

From The Wall Street Journal

In the early 1700s Spain and France were at war with England and the Netherlands.

From The Wall Street Journal

“We’ve talked to a number of Hamas people, and we’re hearing throughout the Arab world that people don’t want to be at war anymore,” a senior U.S. official briefed reporters on Wednesday.

From The Wall Street Journal

South and North Korea remain technically at war, as the 1950–53 Korean War ended with an armistice rather than a peace treaty.

From Barron's

He told AFP he often ran up against vested interests but "I don't think I'm at war with anybody".

From Barron's