Etymology : Middle English, from Old English feohtan; akin to Old High German fehtan to fight and perhaps to Latin pectere to comb; more at PECTINATE
Pronunciation : fIt
Function : verb
Date : before 12th century
1. battle, combat; wrestle; quarrel; boxing match; desire to do battle. battle; combat; wrestle; advance through great effort. fight\fight\ (fīt), v. i. [imp. & p. p. fought (f&add;t); p. pr. & vb. n. fighting.] [oe. fihten, fehten, as. feohtan; akin to d. vechten, ohg. fehtan, g. fechten, sw. f?kta, dan. fegte, and perh. to e. fist; cf. l. pugnare to fight, pugnus fist.].
2. to strive or contend for victory, with armies or in single combat; to attempt to defeat, subdue, or destroy an enemy, either by blows or weapons; to contend in arms; -- followed by with or against. you do fight against your country's foes. to fight with thee no man of arms will deign.
3. to act in opposition to anything; to struggle against; to contend; to strive; to make resistance.
4. To strive or contend for victory, with armies or in single combat; to attempt to defeat, subdue, or destroy an enemy, either by blows or weapons; to contend in arms; followed by with or against.
5. To act in opposition to anything; to struggle against; to contend; to strive; to make resistance.
6. To carry on, or wage, as a conflict, or battle; to win or gain by struggle, as one's way; to sustain by fighting, as a cause.
7. To contend with in battle; to war against; as, they fought the enemy in two pitched battles; the sloop fought the frigate for three hours.
8. To cause to fight; to manage or maneuver in a fight; as, to fight cocks; to fight one's ship.
9. A battle; an engagement; a contest in arms; a combat; a violent conflict or struggle for victory, between individuals or between armies, ships, or navies, etc.
10. A struggle or contest of any kind.
11. Strength or disposition for fighting; pugnacity; as, he has a great deal of fight in him.
12. A screen for the combatants in ships. a boxing match; "the fight was on television last night" the act of fighting; any contest or struggle; "a fight broke out at the hockey game"; "there was fighting in the streets"; "the unhappy couple got into a terrible scrap" an intense verbal dispute; "a violent fight over the bill is expected in the Senate" be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight; "the tribesmen fought each other"; "Siblings are always fighting" fight against or resist strongly; "The senator said he would oppose the bill"; "Don't fight it!" make a strenuous or labored effort; "She struggled for years to survive without welfare"; "He fought for breath".
13. 1. If you fight something unpleasant, you try in a determined way to prevent it or stop it happening. More units to fight forest fires are planned I've spent a lifetime fighting against racism and prejudice. Fight is also a noun. the fight against drug addiction.
14. If you fight for something, you try in a determined way to get it or achieve it. Our Government should be fighting for an end to food subsidies I told him how we had fought to hold on to the company The team has fought its way to the cup final. Fight is also a noun. I too am committing myself to continue the fight for justice. = battle.
15. If an army or group fights a battle with another army or group, they oppose each other with weapons. You can also say that two armies or groups fight a battle. The two men fought a battle over land and water rights In the latest incident at the weekend police fought a gun battle with a gang which used hand grenades against them The Sioux had always fought other tribes for territorial rights.
16. If a person or army fights in a battle or a war, they take part in it. He fought in the war and was taken prisoner by the Americans If I were a young man I would sooner go to prison than fight for this country My father did leave his university to fight the Germans Last month rebels fought their way into the capital. see also:
dogfight + fighting fight·ing More than nine hundred people have died in the fighting.
17. If one person fights with another, or fights them, the two people hit or kick each other because they want to hurt each other. You can also say that two people fight. As a child she fought with her younger sister I did fight him, I punched him but it was like hitting a wall He wrenched the crutch from Jacob, who didn't fight him for it I refuse to act that way when my kids fight You get a lot of unruly drunks fighting each other. Fight is also a noun. He had had a fight with Smith and bloodied his nose.
18. If one person fights with another, or fights them, they have an angry disagreement or quarrel. You can also say that two people fight. She was always arguing with him and fighting with him Gwendolen started fighting her teachers Mostly, they fight about paying bills. = quarrel, argue Fight is also a noun. We think maybe he took off because he had a big fight with his dad the night before.
19. If you fight your way to a place, you move towards it with great difficulty, for example because there are a lot of people or obstacles in your way. I fought my way into a carriage just before the doors closed = battle.
20. A fight is a boxing match. The referee stopped the fight. = bout.
21. To fight means to take part in a boxing match. In a few hours' time one of the world's most famous boxers will be fighting in Britain for the first time I'd like to fight him because he's undefeated and I want to be the first man to beat him I'd like to fight him for the title.
22. If you fight an election, you are a candidate in the election and try to win it. The former party treasurer helped raise almost £40 million to fight the election campaign.
23. You can use fight to refer to a contest such as an election or a sports match. the fight for power between the two parties. = contest.
24. If you fight a case or a court action, you make a legal case against someone in a very determined way, or you put forward a defence when a legal case is made against you. Watkins sued the Army and fought his case in various courts for 10 years The newspaper is fighting a damages action brought by the actress.
25. Fight is the desire or ability to keep fighting. I thought that we had a lot of fight in us.
26. If you fight an emotion or desire, you try very hard not to feel it, show it, or act on it, but do not always succeed. I desperately fought the urge to giggle He fought with the urge to smoke one of the cigars he'd given up awhile ago He fought to be patient with her.
27. emphasis If you describe someone as fighting fit, you are emphasizing that they are very fit or healthy. After a good night's sleep I feel fighting fit again.
28. Someone who is fighting for their life is making a great effort to stay alive, either when they are being physically attacked or when they are very ill. He is still fighting for his life in hospital.
29. to fight a losing battle: see:
battle.