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

See Examples For:

at war

The United States and Iran have been at war for months, and the pair claimed asylum to enter the country as Christian converts, so Azizi’s wife was surprised and terrified.

From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 13, 2026

The American people at war need to be able to make sense of what they are seeing.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 9, 2026

Among those taking part in the march-past for the first time was 103-year-old Annie Duplock, who had been part of the Land Army that had helped to feed the country at war.

From BBC ● Nov. 8, 2026

In 1864, with the nation at war, Lincoln held an election he expected to lose and privately pledged to cooperate with his successor.

From Salon ● Oct. 28, 2026

Now England and France were at war, and things were in a worse fix than ever.

From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham

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