battle

[ bat-l ]

/ ˈbæt l /

|||

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR battle ON THESAURUS.COM

noun

a hostile encounter or engagement between opposing military forces: the battle of Waterloo.

participation in such hostile encounters or engagements: wounds received in battle.

a fight between two persons or animals: ordering a trial by battle to settle the dispute.

any conflict or struggle: a battle for control of the Senate.

Archaic. a battalion.

verb (used without object), bat·tled, bat·tling.

to engage in battle: ready to battle with the enemy.

to work very hard or struggle; strive: to battle for freedom.

verb (used with object), bat·tled, bat·tling.

to fight (a person, army, cause, etc.): We battled strong winds and heavy rains in our small boat.

to force or accomplish by fighting, struggling, etc.: He battled his way to the top of his profession.

Content related to battle

Confederate flag Read more in this article about some frequently asked questions and fun facts related to our definitions.

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Words related to battle

bloodshed, campaign, clash, combat, hostility, encounter, assault, fighting, strife, crusade, action, attack, struggle, skirmish, war, conflict, warfare, contest, disagreement, controversy

Words nearby battle

battik, batting, batting average, batting eye, batting order, battle, battle clasp, battle creek, battle cruiser, battle cry, battle dress

Idioms for battle

give/do battle, to enter into conflict; fight: He was ready to do battle for his beliefs.

Origin of battle

1250–1300; Middle English bataile < Old French < Vulgar Latin *battālia for Late Latin battuālia (neuter plural) gladiatorial exercises, equivalent to battu(ere) to strike (see bate²) + -ālia, neuter plural of -ālis -al²

SYNONYMS FOR battle

1 contest, conflict, war.

2 warfare, combat, fighting.

10 conflict.

7 contest.

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR battle ON THESAURUS.COM

OTHER WORDS FROM battle

bat·tler, noun

synonym study for battle

1. Battle, action, skirmish mean a conflict between organized armed forces. A battle is a prolonged and general conflict pursued to a definite decision: the Battle of the Bulge in World War II. A skirmish is a slight engagement, often on the periphery of an area of battle: several minor skirmishes. An action can be a battle or a skirmish or can refer to actual fighting or combat: a major military action; action along the border; He saw action in the campaign.

Definition for battle (2 of 2)

battle²

[ bat-l ]

/ ˈbæt l /

verb (used with object), bat·tled, bat·tling. Archaic.

to furnish (a building or wall) with battlements; crenelate.

Origin of battle

1300–50; Middle English batailen < Middle French bataillier to provide with batailles. See battlement

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

Examples from the Web for battle

The U.S. military just unveiled a new effort to get Iraqis ready to battle ISIS.
Pentagon Insider on New Plan to Fight ISIS: ‘Of Course It’s Not Enough’|Nancy A. Youssef|January 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It is the steady accretion of detail that may yet be the most damaging factor in the battle for British hearts and minds.
From Playboy Prince to Dirty Old Man?|Tom Sykes|January 5, 2015|DAILY BEAST
It has long been a battle cry in conservative circles that Christmas is under siege.
Why I’m for the War on Christmas|Asawin Suebsaeng|December 23, 2014|DAILY BEAST
The opening of the battle narrative begins on—get this—page 266!
Hitler’s Hail Mary|James A. Warren|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST

The Kurds claimed at least 100 Islamic militants were killed in the two-day battle to lift the siege.
Iraqi Kurds Get Their Groove Back, End Siege of Mount Sinjar|Jamie Dettmer|December 20, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Crossing the river Lykus into the plain, Mithridates offered the Romans battle.
Plutarch's Lives, Volume II|Aubrey Stewart & George Long
The old scolding was a-going on, and the old tune of that hojus "Battle of Prag."
Memoirs of Mr. Charles J. Yellowplush|William Makepeace Thackeray
He burst in upon her to declare his love, as if it were a question of firing the first shot on a field of battle.
The Duchesse de Langeais|Honore de Balzac
The pride of the general had been deeply wounded by the rebuke he had received on the field of battle.
The Student's Life of Washington; Condensed from the Larger Work of Washington Irving|Washington Irving
As for Pierre, he was now in his element, sniffing the battle like a young warhorse, and forgetful of the odds against him.
The Raid From Beausejour; And How The Carter Boys Lifted The Mortgage|Charles G. D. Roberts

British Dictionary definitions for battle (1 of 3)

battle

/ (ˈbætəl) /

noun

a fight between large armed forces; military or naval engagement; combat

conflict; contention; strugglehis battle for recognition

do battle, give battle or join battle to start fighting

verb

(when intr , often foll by against, for, or with) to fight in or as if in military combat; contend (with)she battled against cancer

to struggle in order to achieve something or arrive somewherehe battled through the crowd

(intr) Australian to scrape a living, esp by doing odd jobs

Derived forms of battle

battler, noun

Word Origin for battle

C13: from Old French bataile, from Late Latin battālia exercises performed by soldiers, from battuere to beat

British Dictionary definitions for battle (2 of 3)

Battle¹

/ (ˈbætəl) /

noun

a town in SE England, in East Sussex: site of the Battle of Hastings (1066); medieval abbey. Pop: 5190 (2001)

British Dictionary definitions for battle (3 of 3)

Battle²

/ (ˈbætəl) /

noun

Kathleen . born 1948, US opera singer: a coloratura soprano, she made her professional debut in 1972 and sang with New York City's Metropolitan Opera (1977–94)

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

Idioms and Phrases with battle

battle

see half the battle; losing battle; pitched battle.