combat
Americanverb (used with object)
verb (used without object)
noun
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Military. active, armed fighting with enemy forces.
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a fight, struggle, or controversy, as between two persons, teams, or ideas.
noun
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a fight, conflict, or struggle
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an action fought between two military forces
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( as modifier )
a combat jacket
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a fight between two individuals; duel
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fighting at close quarters
verb
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(tr) to fight or defy
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(intr; often foll by with or against) to struggle or strive (against); be in conflict (with)
to combat against disease
Usage
What does combat mean? Combat is most commonly used in a military context to refer to active fighting among opposing armies. To engage in combat is to engage in fighting. This kind of combat most commonly takes place on a battlefield or warzone on the ground (called a combat zone). Aerial combat involves fighting in the air among air forces. Hand-to-hand combat involves close fighting, often literally with one’s hands. Combat is often used as a modifier (adjective) in terms that refer to things related to or involving combat, such as combat training, combat medic, combat fatigue, and combat boots. Combat is sometimes used more broadly or figuratively to refer to active conflict between two people or groups, as in The two corporations are preparing to do combat in the courtroom. The term verbal combat refers to fighting with words. Combat is also commonly used as a verb meaning to oppose or work to defeat. It’s especially used when the thing to be defeated is intangible or abstract, as in We need to combat climate change or Our organization works to combat poverty. The figurative senses of the verbs fight and battle are close synonyms of this sense of combat. The sides engaging in combat can be called combatants. The adjective combative means inclined to fight. Example: The objective of basic training is to prepare our soldiers for combat.
Synonym Usage
See fight
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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combaternoun
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intercombatnoun
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precombatnoun
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combatableadjective
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self-combatingadjective
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uncombatableadjective
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uncombatedadjective
Inflected Forms
Nouns
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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combatsimple
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combatssimple
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have combatedperfect
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have combattedperfect
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has combatedperfect
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has combattedperfect
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am combatingprogressive
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am combattingprogressive
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are combatingprogressive
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are combattingprogressive
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is combatingprogressive
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is combattingprogressive
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have been combatingperfect progressive
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have been combattingperfect progressive
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has been combatingperfect progressive
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has been combattingperfect progressive
Past
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combatedsimple
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combattedsimple
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had combatedperfect
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had combattedperfect
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was combatingprogressive
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was combattingprogressive
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were combatingprogressive
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were combattingprogressive
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had been combatingperfect progressive
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had been combattingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of combat
First recorded in 1535–45; from Middle French combat (noun), combattre (verb), from Late Latin combattere, from Latin com- com- + Late Latin battere, from Latin battuere “to strike, beat”
Explanation
Combat is fighting between two groups of armed forces. When you engage in combat, typically this means you engage in fighting that involves weapons. Combat comes from the Latin com- meaning "together with" and battere meaning "to fight." Combat can be used as a modifier; for example, a combat zone is an area where fighting is taking place. The word combat can also be used to refer to the action of fighting against something to prevent it. An after-school program for kids is working to combat the issue of street violence by creating a safe space where kids can go as an alternative.
Vocabulary lists containing combat
Vocabulary from the Introduction to "Reality is Broken" by Jane McGonigal
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Memorial Day: Words of Respect and Remembrance
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Beowulf vocabulary
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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:
At this point in the story, Edward the Confessor is still King and William and Harold are not yet locked in combat.
From BBC ● Jul. 17, 2026
Women have been serving for decades now, including in front line roles, even if they were only legally recognized as combat soldiers in 2013.
From Salon ● Jul. 17, 2026
Dallas Fed President Lorie Logan said the central bank should raise interest rates to combat elevated inflation, becoming one of the clearest voices yet for a hike at Fed’s July meeting.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 16, 2026
Hamawy is a former Army combat surgeon who served in Iraq.
From Slate ● Jul. 14, 2026
Marina was growing impatient and was anxious about getting to her regiment, so soon to be assigned to combat and still without their commander.
From "A Thousand Sisters" by Elizabeth Wein
Of the distinct combats that historians have identified, more than 90% were not primarily fought by formally organized regular troops but instead involved district militias and other irregulars, including Native American warriors.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jan. 9, 2026
It combats what Dr Franco calls "relational loneliness" - the loss of deeper platonic bonds needed for healthy human connection.
From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2025
Even as her unsinkable, emotionally complicated boss combats Ava’s efforts to elevate the show at every turn, Ava’s maturation stands out.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2025
Conecta Arizona also combats misinformation about the upcoming Mexican presidential election that Félix said has been seeping over the border.
From Seattle Times ● Apr. 7, 2024
Japanese warfare had previously involved single combats between samurai swordsmen, who stood in the open, made ritual speeches, and then took pride in fighting gracefully.
From "Guns, Germs, and Steel: The Fates of Human Societies" by Jared M. Diamond
Google has also combated the idea that AI will kill its Search business by developing AI Overviews and AI Search.
From MarketWatch ● Dec. 12, 2025
"We've always combated those views, and we've always worked with young people - and that's the same for racist views and homophobic views," he says.
From BBC ● Apr. 9, 2025
The Times reported that numerous fire hydrants in higher-elevation streets of the Palisades went dry, leaving crews struggling with low water pressure as they combated the flames.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jan. 11, 2025
Meanwhile, piggery managers combated mosquitoes by mowing grass, applying insecticides, removing standing water, and repairing window screens in offices and lunch rooms.
From Science Magazine ● Nov. 21, 2023
It was possible, and sometimes she thought it probable, that his affection might be reanimated, and the influence of his friends successfully combated by the more natural influence of Jane’s attractions.
From "Pride and Prejudice" by Jane Austen
The freight company has combatted a weak shipping economy by controlling costs.
From Barron's ● Oct. 31, 2025
O’Malley combatted this firsthand while trying to turn things around for Social Security.
From Salon ● Nov. 18, 2024
Blinken said in a message sent to all department employees that the vandalism is a painful reminder that antisemitism remains an issue in the U.S. and around the world and must be combatted relentlessly.
From Seattle Times ● Jul. 27, 2021
The propagation of conspiracy theories can partially be combatted by strong messaging from trusted sources.
From Slate ● Jul. 20, 2020
The honourable man, who had evidently combatted calumny and slander, was now silenced.
From Major Frank by Akeroyd, James
Sometimes I think people “wash out” and I think it’s wonderful how she’s combating that narrative in so many ways, and that people are out here supporting her.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 10, 2026
All nine companies are failing when it comes to combating "existential" threats such as pursuing models that reach human-level intelligence, known as "artificial general intelligence" or AGI, the report said.
From Barron's ● Jul. 7, 2026
By increasing fat burning while simultaneously limiting the formation of new fat cells, targeting Mitch could eventually provide researchers with a new strategy for combating obesity.
From Science Daily ● Jul. 3, 2026
The Turkish foreign ministry told the BBC such allegations were unfounded and "unfairly cast a shadow on Turkey's successful efforts in combating irregular migration".
From BBC ● Jul. 1, 2026
I put in long hours at Sidley & Austin, often eating both lunch and dinner at my desk while combating a continuous flow of documents, all of them written in precise and decorous lawyer-language.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
Colombia's president-elect, de la Espriella, will take office a few days later, having won a similarly razor-thin election on the promise of combatting organised crime.
From BBC ● Jul. 4, 2026
Harman, a former minister and deputy party leader, will take on an advisor role aimed at combatting violence against women and girls, while Brown will become a special envoy on global finance.
From Barron's ● May 9, 2026
The official said the Syrian government has agreed to take the lead combatting terrorism within its borders and US military presence "at scale" is no longer required.
From BBC ● Feb. 18, 2026
He said in his resignation letter his contributions included investigating why generative AI systems suck up to users, combatting AI-assisted bioterrorism risks and researching "how AI assistants could make us less human".
From BBC ● Feb. 12, 2026
She claimed to be an expert in combatting cold weather and in avoiding head colds.
From "Cheaper by the Dozen" by Frank B. Gilbreth Jr. and Ernestine Gilbreth Carey
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.
