fight

fightverb

To fight is to use force or strong effort against a person or thing that is against you.

1. use forcetry to hurt someone by hitting them or using a weapon

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj] verb + object [V + obj] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep]

   • Two boys were fighting outside the school.
   • The dogs fought over a bone. V + prep + obj
   • He fought the man who tried to take his bag. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + preposition fight with someone, fight over something

   adverb + verb fight hard, fight bravely

2. in a wartake part in a war or a battle

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj] verb + object [V + obj]

   • Her grandfather fought in the war. V + prep + obj
   • The two countries fought a long war. V + obj
   • Soldiers fought for control of the bridge. V + prep + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun fight a war, fight a battle

   verb + preposition fight against someone, fight for your country

3. argueargue angrily with someone

   intransitive [I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj] verb + adverb or preposition [V + adv/prep]

   • My parents fought about money. V + prep + obj
   • Stop fighting, you two!
   • The children always fight over the TV. V + prep + obj

   Collocations

   verb + preposition fight about something, fight over something, fight with someone

   Synonyms argue; quarrel

4. stop something badtry hard to stop something bad or to end it

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj]

   • Firefighters fought the fire all night. V + obj
   • The city is doing more to fight crime. V + obj
   • Her body is fighting an infection. V + obj
   • We must fight against unfair laws. V + prep + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun fight a fire, fight crime, fight a disease, fight poverty

   verb + preposition fight against something

5. try to gettry very hard to get something or to keep it

   intransitive [I] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj] verb + to-infinitive [V + to-inf]

   • Workers are fighting for better pay. V + prep + obj
   • The doctors fought to save his life. V + to-inf
   • She fought hard to keep her job. V + to-inf

   Collocations

   verb + preposition fight for something, fight for your rights

   adverb + verb fight hard

6. in sporttake part in a match in a sport such as boxing

   transitive or intransitive [T/I] verb + object [V + obj] verb + preposition + object [V + prep + obj] sport

   • He will fight the champion next month. V + obj
   • She has fought ten times and never lost.

   Collocations

   verb + noun fight the champion, fight for the title

7. a feelingtry hard not to show a feeling or not to do what you want to do

   transitive [T] verb + object [V + obj]

   • She fought the urge to laugh. V + obj
   • He was fighting sleep at his desk. V + obj

   Collocations

   verb + noun fight the urge, fight sleep, fight your fear

See also fight back; fight off