battle
noun
a hostile encounter or engagement between opposing military forces.
Showing results for battle.
Search instead for
battled.
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
Looking to grow your vocabulary? Check out this interactive, curated word list from our team of English language specialists at Vocabulary.com – one of over 17,000 lists we've built to help learners worldwide!
Beowulf vocabulary
Interested in learning more words like this one? Our team at Vocabulary.com has got you covered! You can review flashcards, quiz yourself, practice spelling, and more – and it's all completely free to use!
"Julius Caesar" by William Shakespeare, Act V
Want to remember this word for good? Start your learning journey today with our library of interactive, themed word lists built by the experts at Vocabulary.com – we'll help you make the most of your study time!
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:
The battle for second place is tight - Verstappen is just two points ahead of Hamilton, who is nine clear of Russell, who has a lead of five over Leclerc.
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
Ambassador Rod Brazier said the countries were "enduring friends" and recalled support that Indonesia sent to help battle Australia's own devastating bushfires in 2020.
From Barron's ● Nov. 6, 2026
Today’s battle features 16 stunt performers and 10 special action extras playing orcs, as well as eight stunt performers and 42 special action extras playing wild men and women.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 5, 2026
In the recorded annals of puffin military campaigns, never did a puffin march into battle with such dignified grit.
From "The Very, Very Far North" by Dan Bar-el
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
"He was awarded the Military Cross for his bravery at the Battle of the Somme. He was mentioned in despatches on a number of occasions as well."
From BBC ● Oct. 18, 2026
The 1966 Battle of Hastings re-enactment that got real.
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 6, 2026
It tells, over 230 feet of finely embroidered cloth, the story of the last time England was conquered—the victory of William of Normandy at the Battle of Hastings in 1066.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 4, 2026
Most of the American army had managed to survive the Battle of Brooklyn.
From I Survived the American Revolution, 1776 by Lauren Tarshis
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
“We need to treat deep precision strike as deterrence,” Nowak said, noting that if Ukraine had it early in the war, fighting wouldn’t have “resulted in trench battles like in World War I.”
From The Wall Street Journal ● Nov. 3, 2026
Travelers described lost loved ones, personal tragedies and battles with insecurity, regret and doubts.
From Los Angeles Times ● Nov. 3, 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
A score of genuinely brilliant military leaders who also confronted a superior enemy force—Hannibal, Robert E. Lee, and Napoleon come to mind—were eventually defeated because they presumed that victory meant winning battles.
From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis
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
Heavy black clouds battled lightning in the churning sky and pelted us with leaden raindrops.
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
“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
But as their customers have fallen into crisis, battling Chinese competition, high production costs at home and weakening demand, suppliers have been hit hard.
From Barron's ● Nov. 3, 2026
But Marchant and Joseph are also battling for the number 13 shirt, and a possible World Cup place.
From BBC ● Oct. 26, 2026
“With not one but two firsthand accounts of battling it!”
From Anya and the Dragon by Sofiya Pasternack
Random Word
Spin the wheel and learn a new word!
Get a wordDefinitions 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.
