battle

[ bat-l ]

/ ˈbæt l /

Save This Word!

See synonyms for: battle / battled / battles / battling 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.

OTHER WORDS FOR battle

1 contest, conflict, war.

2 warfare, combat, fighting.

7 toil.

See synonyms for battle on Thesaurus.com

QUIZ

CAN YOU ANSWER THESE COMMON GRAMMAR DEBATES?

There are grammar debates that never die; and the ones highlighted in the questions in this quiz are sure to rile everyone up once again. Do you know how to answer the questions that cause some of the greatest grammar debates?

Question 1 of 7

Which sentence is correct?

His boss, whom he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

His boss, who he admires, is waiting to meet with him about the big project.

TAKE THE QUIZ TO FIND OUT

Idioms about battle

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

Origin of battle

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 -al², bate²

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.

OTHER WORDS FROM battle

battler, noun

Other definitions 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

First recorded in 1300–50; Middle English batailen, from Middle French bataillier “to provide with batailles; see battlement

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use battle in a sentence

We’re all trying to support restaurants in our own ways, and honestly, the love we have for the industry as a whole is making the effort to “support restaurants” seem like a vague and unending battle.
Overwhelmed by How to Help the Restaurant Industry? Make a List.|Erin DeJesus|November 20, 2020|Eater
Most people are not poachers, ivory collectors or intentionally harming wildlife, but silence or indifference to the battle at hand is as deadly.
Can artificial intelligence give elephants a winning edge?|Walter Thompson|November 20, 2020|TechCrunch
While “Age of Calamity” can feel like an uneven series of battle ballets, it does have its share of astonishing dances.
‘Hyrule Warriors: Age of Calamity’: A semi-satisfying new piece of the ‘Zelda’ universe|Harold Goldberg|November 20, 2020|Washington Post
For them, it’s a battle for local control over setting water rates.
Outsiders Are Wary of San Diego’s Multibillion-Dollar Pipeline Plan|MacKenzie Elmer|November 17, 2020|Voice of San Diego

Amid battles over such issues, however, the state has gone from predictably Republican to a tossup.
The race to get Georgia’s 23,000 17-year-olds registered to vote|Tanya Basu|November 15, 2020|MIT Technology Review
We also see her physically battling Sheriff Clark, but the camera focuses on her falling to the ground.
Dr. King Goes to Hollywood: The Flawed History of ‘Selma’|Gary May|January 2, 2015|DAILY BEAST
A few Republicans, such as Christie and Walker, made their names battling the unions.
How Public Sector Unions Divide the Democrats|Daniel DiSalvo|December 29, 2014|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
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|DAILY BEAST
Are the guys from Vanity Fair and Time battling it out and trying to get gangster with each other?
It Was All a Dream: Drama, Bullshit, and the Rebirth of The Source Magazine|Alex Suskind|October 14, 2014|DAILY BEAST
"I could not go alone," said Ruth, and her tone was that of one still battling with a notion that is repugnant.
Mistress Wilding|Rafael Sabatini
Not until the colonies threw off the royal yoke and were battling for freedom was the secret told.
Stories of Our Naval Heroes|Various
It was a terrific struggle; not the skillful sparring of trained fighters, but the rough and tumble battling of primitive giants.
The Shepherd of the Hills|Harold Bell Wright
A life of perpetual arguing, squabbling and battling,—one's neighbors being such an unreasonable set!
History Of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. VII. (of XXI.)|Thomas Carlyle
Here is a scene from Rentsch, which falls out in Friedrich's time; and which brought much battling and broiling to him and his.
History Of Friedrich II. of Prussia, Vol. III. (of XXI.)|Thomas Carlyle

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

Other Idioms and Phrases with battle

battle

see half the battle; losing battle; pitched battle.

battle

OTHER WORDS FOR battle

Idioms about battle

Origin of battle

synonym study for battle

OTHER WORDS FROM battle

Other definitions for battle (2 of 2)

Origin of battle

Words related to battle

How to use battle in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for battle (1 of 3)

Derived forms of battle

Word Origin for battle

British Dictionary definitions for battle (2 of 3)

British Dictionary definitions for battle (3 of 3)

Other Idioms and Phrases with battle