battle
noun
a hostile encounter or engagement between opposing military forces.
battle
1 American
[bat-l]
/ ˈbæt l /
noun
-
battles
plural
-
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)
battled,
battling
verb (used with object)
battled,
battling
-
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.
idioms
battle
2
American
[bat-l]
/ ˈbæt l /
verb (used with object)
Archaic.
battled,
battling
battle
1
British
/ ˈbætəl /
noun
-
a fight between large armed forces; military or naval engagement; combat
-
conflict; contention; struggle
his battle for recognition
-
to start fighting
verb
-
to fight in or as if in military combat; contend (with)
she battled against cancer
-
to struggle in order to achieve something or arrive somewhere
he battled through the crowd
-
(intr) to scrape a living, esp by doing odd jobs
Battle
2
British
/ ˈbætəl /
noun
Battle
3
British
/ ˈbætəl /
noun
battle
More Idioms
Synonym Usage
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.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Etymology
Origin of battle1
First recorded in 1250–1300; Middle English batail(le), batal, from Old French bataille, from Vulgar Latin battālia (unrecorded) for Late Latin battuālia (neuter plural) “gladiatorial exercises,” equivalent to battu(ere) “to strike” + -ālia, neuter plural of -ālis adjective suffix; see also -al 2, bate 2
Origin of battle2
First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English batailen, from Middle French bataillier “to provide with batailles; see battlement
Explanation
A battle is an open struggle, usually between two groups — like a baseball championship game or a food fight. The word battle is often used in opposition to war, a series of battles. Perhaps you have heard someone tell you, after winning the first of many dance competitions, "You may have won the battle, but you haven’t won the war!" A battle doesn’t have to occur between two individuals or groups. You may endure an inner battle to cut down on junk food. If you skip those fries for lunch today, then you have won a small battle.
Vocabulary lists containing battle
Superhero Lexicon
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Beowulf vocabulary
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"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act V
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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:
Both laws were inspired in part by another legal battle over looted art between a California family and a prominent museum, which is still ongoing.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
Here is a look at the battle lines in the war over a technology that is now the backbone of the economy and could decide the future of the planet.
From Barron's ● Sep. 15, 2026
Gen. Rob Bonta from waging a legal battle to block Paramount’s $111-billion acquisition of Warner Bros.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 14, 2026
Foundation has secured a $24 million contract with the Pentagon and is in the process of testing a battle robot with U.S. defense forces.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 14, 2026
“Brandy. Union officers would take a sip after a battle won.”
From "Will’s Race for Home" by Jewell Parker Rhodes
The region was also the site of the Battle of Jutland, fought off Hanstholm in Northern Jutland.
From Science Daily ● Sep. 14, 2026
It was originally embroidered in England but kept for centuries in France, and tells the story of the Norman conquest of England and the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
From BBC ● Sep. 10, 2026
Depicting the 1066 Battle of Hastings and the invasion by William the Conqueror's Norman army, the tapestry has shadowy origins.
From Barron's ● Sep. 10, 2026
The more than 200-foot-long work chronicles the events leading up to the Battle of Hastings and the Norman conquest of England.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
When anyone asked about April 19, 1775, the Battle of Lexington would be the right answer—no matter what else happened on that day.
From "Carry On, Mr. Bowditch" by Jean Lee Latham
In that respect, like many other merger battles, this one has been producing more murk than light.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 16, 2026
Let’s celebrate that, even as we gird for more battles to come.
From Slate ● Sep. 15, 2026
Rybakina's next two wins over China's Zheng Qinwen and home favourite Coco Gauff required more work after losing the first sets, proving she had the durability to come through tough battles.
From BBC ● Sep. 12, 2026
A veteran of battles for the right to divorce and abortion, Bonino was a former member of Italy's Radical Party who commanded respect across the political spectrum.
From Barron's ● Sep. 11, 2026
Family legend has it that the coin was given to Dixon by a sweetheart to serve as a good luck charm through the Civil War battles.
From "Shipwrecked!" by Martin W. Sandler
In Smith’s first at-bat, he battled for nine pitches, finally lifting a changeup over the left field wall.
From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 9, 2026
Several new mothers battled what looked like postpartum depression.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 6, 2026
Teams battled rain, rising rivers and treacherous conditions at the disaster sites.
From Barron's ● Aug. 30, 2026
Made some really good deliveries in the first half and battled well all afternoon.
From BBC ● Aug. 29, 2026
A week later, the Americans battled the British in Princeton, New Jersey—and won.
From I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 by Lauren Tarshis
The Saudi-led coalition battling Yemen's Houthis accused the rebels on Wednesday of targeting Islam's holy city Mecca, sparking outrage across the Muslim world and deepening the conflict roiling the region.
From Barron's ● Sep. 16, 2026
The Zvernec residents have already been battling this appropriation of their land in the courts for 20 years, so in many ways, the Kushner development is just the latest twist.
From Slate ● Sep. 8, 2026
Allan, who was battling Parkinson’s at the time, was spending little time at the office.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 5, 2026
So, with fans flocking to worship at the Temple of Speed, just how do Italians feel about Antonelli battling Ferrari's Lewis Hamilton and Charles Leclerc for race wins and the drivers' championship?
From BBC ● Sep. 5, 2026
Sometimes people in my neighborhood make huddles like this around two rappers when they’re battling it out.
From "Like Vanessa" by Tami Charles
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
