pitched battle
Americannoun
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a battle in which the orderly arrangement of armed forces and the location have been predetermined.
-
an encounter in which the antagonists are completely and intensely engaged.
The dispute evolved into a pitched battle between management and labor.
noun
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a battle ensuing from the deliberate choice of time and place, engaging all the planned resources
-
any fierce encounter, esp one with large numbers
Etymology
Origin of pitched battle
First recorded in 1600–10
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.
In the pitched battle to return the National Football League to Los Angeles, the proposed stadium in Carson seemed to face a difficult path.
From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 12, 2026
Colbert’s monologue could open the door for an even more pitched battle.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Feb. 17, 2026
The 77th annual Emmy Awards is a pitched battle for hardware between deep-pocketed streamers and premium cable channels.
From Salon ● Sep. 14, 2025
It has been described as the last pitched battle to be fought on British soil.
From BBC ● Apr. 6, 2025
As a whole, the general election had been less grueling than the pitched battle of the primaries.
From "Becoming" by Michelle Obama
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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.
