battle

[bat-l]

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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.

Idioms

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

Related formsbat·tler, noun

Synonyms for battle

SEE MORE SYNONYMS FOR battle ON THESAURUS.COM

1. contest, conflict, war. 2. warfare, combat, fighting. 10. conflict. 7. contest.

Synonym study

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.

battle

[bat-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

Related Words for battling

contend, wrestle, feud, clamor, argue, strive, combat, contest, agitate, oppugn, skirmish, tug, war, dispute

Examples from the Web for battling

Contemporary Examples of battling

On my short list of the great rock voices of all time, he is battling for the top spot with Mick Jagger.
The Greatest Rock Voice of All Time Belonged to Joe Cocker
Ted Gioia
December 23, 2014
It was a traditional burial—the kind that the government is now battling—that led to the first outbreak.
Jail Threats for Sierra Leone Ebola Victims’ Families
Abby Haglage
December 10, 2014
One of our favorite episodes with Matthew Goode [who plays Finn] was when he was battling Will before he got shot.
‘The Good Wife’ Creators on the Premiere’s Big Cary Twist, Will’s Death, and More
Kevin Fallon
September 22, 2014
They have been battling ISIS for a year and fighting the Assad regime for over three years.
Syrian Rebels: We’ll Use U.S. Weapons to Fight Assad, Whether Obama Likes It or Not
Josh Rogin
September 12, 2014
Battling various anxieties, Kevin spent time in shelters as well as living out of his car.
Banished Catholic Priest Helps Abuse Survivors
Moral Courage
August 11, 2014

Historical Examples of battling

She spoke with a touch of haste, as if battling against some hindrance within.
Within the Law
Marvin Dana
Once more, all the powers are battling for possession of the people.
The Three Cities Trilogy, Complete
Emile Zola
The noise from downstairs was as that of a score of battling fiends.
White Fang
Jack London
In its barrow it trusted, its battling and bulwarks: that boast was vain!
Beowulf
Anonymous
He knew that battling against the temptation would be hopeless.
Cleo The Magnificent
Louis Zangwill

British Dictionary definitions for battling

battle

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 Formsbattler, noun

Word Origin for battle

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

Battle

noun

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

Battle

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

Word Origin and History for battling

battle

early 14c., "to fight," from French batailler (12c.), from bataille (see battle (n.)). Related: Battled; battling.

battle

c.1300, from Old French bataille "battle, single combat," also "inner turmoil, harsh circumstances; army, body of soldiers," from Late Latin battualia "exercise of soldiers and gladiators in fighting and fencing," from Latin battuere "to beat, to strike" (see batter (v.)). Phrase battle royal "fight involving several combatants" is from 1670s.

Idioms and Phrases with battling

battle

see half the battle; losing battle; pitched battle.