battle
noun
a hostile encounter or engagement between opposing military forces.
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battling.
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
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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:
US media called the race for Constantino, 44, after a hard-fought battle with Democrat Blake Gendebien in New York state's 21st congressional district.
From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026
This weekend's Sao Paulo Grand Prix is in many ways the first page of the first chapter of the next championship battle.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
It’s a more focused, player-centric sport, and all it took was an upstart spending $5 billion to provoke an existential battle for golf’s soul.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
Pity would lose any battle with her forthrightness.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 6, 2026
“What did I tell y’all about refilling the cannons for battle after y’all’s parties—forget it. I’ll do it myself. Signify, protect the Queen Mother and that brother of hers!”
From "Kwame Crashes the Underworld" by Craig Kofi Farmer
In recent years, Roundabout has worked on major projects, including recent Oscar winner “One Battle After Another,” the 50th anniversary restoration of “One Flew Over the Cuckoo’s Nest” and Netflix’s animated comedy “Leo.”
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 2026
In December 1944, Trautman—who had by this time been promoted to lieutenant colonel—was trapped behind enemy lines during the Battle of the Bulge.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 6, 2026
The 1966 Battle of Hastings re-enactment that got real.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026
The 70m-long Bayeux Tapestry depicts 58 scenes outlining the extraordinary events surrounding the Norman conquest of England, the Battle of Hastings in 1066 and the end of Anglo-Saxon rule in Britain.
From BBC ● Oct. 4, 2026
Though the Germans fell on the Americans like a whirlwind, more American reinforcements soon arrived and launched a vicious counterattack known as the Battle of the Bulge.
From "Hitler Youth: Growing Up in Hitler's Shadow" by Susan Campbell Bartoletti
Court battles over claims on future legal fees could upend how private lenders finance mass-tort law firms.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 5, 2026
The series centres on the adventures of green-clad warrior Link, who battles the evil demon Ganondorf across the ages trying to save Princess Zelda.
From Barron's ● Nov. 5, 2026
According to experts, early voting data is showing something unexpected: The vote is being driven by young voters rather than just those who went through the earlier battles.
From Salon ● Nov. 3, 2026
She described Mageean as an "outstanding athlete and ambassador for her sport" who had spoken with honesty and bravery about her health battles.
From BBC ● Nov. 1, 2026
We run the risk of winning isolated battles but losing the larger war.
From "The New Jim Crow" by Michelle Alexander
Wiles recently battled cancer, announcing in September, six months after her diagnosis, that she was in remission.
From BBC ● Nov. 6, 2026
Some small business owners in Raman’s district have said they’ve battled homeless encampments and public safety issues without support from Raman’s office.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 26, 2026
He battled Rays reliever Ian Seymour for eight pitches, fouling off a collection of well-placed fastballs.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 25, 2026
But business leaders have grown impatient with the slow pace of reforms as German companies have battled high energy prices, US tariffs and stiff Chinese competition, particularly in Germany's renowned automotive sector.
From Barron's ● Oct. 20, 2026
I thought back to my darker days after college when I battled depression and uncertainty, unable to find a job in the corporate world like my friends.
From "Proud" by Ibtihaj Muhammad
Kotlikoff, 75, has been at Cornell for over 25 years and has spent much of his two-year presidency battling crises.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 6, 2026
“It is one thing to have confidence when you are leading or battling for first place in an industry you are well positioned to win long term,” Fishman said.
From MarketWatch ● Nov. 6, 2026
“You truly feel like a kid and you’ve imagined yourself more grown up battling in some fantastical place,” the actor says.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026
The streamer and children’s videogame platform are both battling similar problems as user engagement slows.
From Barron's ● Oct. 30, 2026
Just as Clare had suspected, they were trying to decide which way to go, their high-pitched voices battling the whoosh of the river.
From "The Undead Fox of Deadwood Forest" by Aubrey Hartman
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Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
