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to fight

to fight

∞ 1.0
To take part in a physical or verbal struggle against someone
  • verb
  • /faɪt/
: pelear
  • They had to fight against the harsh weather to complete the marathon.
  • stop fighting
  • fight back
  • fight each other

Sat down and when I said it's time to fight, he was gone.

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Examples

Synonyms

to argue
vsto fight
820 1.1

To speak angrily with someone because you disagree

also covers physical confrontations, not only angry speech
to battle
vsto fight
352 2.7

To fight against someone or something for a long time

is more general, not always long or intense
to combat
vsto fight
137 4.1

To fight something harmful like a disease or unfair treatment

covers that opposition but also simple personal disputes
to have words
vsto fight
  • Informal
122 6.9

Talk angrily to someone because of a disagreement

is more general, including less serious or nonverbal conflicts
to wrestle
vsto fight
94 3.9

To struggle with a difficult problem or decision

is external and can involve physical or verbal interactions
to contend
vsto fight
62 3.7

Compete with others to try to win something

is broader, including fights without a goal of winning
to clash
vsto fight
58 3.1

To disagree strongly with another person or group

is wider, including mild disagreements as well as forceful ones
to quarrel
vsto fight
34 2.6

To argue angrily with someone about small things

is broader, covering both serious and trivial disputes
to feud
vsto fight
20 5.6

To have a long bitter argument with someone

is shorter or one-off, not necessarily long lasting
to war
vsto fight
18 5.9

To fight a long armed conflict against another country or group

is smaller in scale, covering personal or local disputes too
to spar
vsto fight
18 7.1

To argue in a friendly, quick way without serious anger

is harsher and can be hostile rather than playful
to brawl
vsto fight
15 4.4

To fight loudly and violently in a public place

is not limited to loud or public violent incidents
to struggle
vsto fight
11 2.7

To fight against someone or something, often with great effort

is broader, covering both physical and verbal conflict generally
to come to blows
vsto fight
9 6.5

To start fighting physically with someone after an argument

covers the whole act of conflict, not only escalation to physical attack
to wrangle
vsto fight
8 6.8

To argue loudly for a long time

can be brief or private, not necessarily noisy or long
to tussle
vsto fight
7 5.3

To fight roughly with another person at close range

includes both physical and verbal conflict, not only rough contact
to join battle
vsto fight
7 7.3

To take part in a fight or argument

is the general action, not only joining an existing conflict
to cross swords
vsto fight
  • Informal
6 6.8

Argue strongly with someone, often in public

is broader, covering physical clashes as well as verbal ones
to scuffle
vsto fight
5 5.1

To fight briefly at close range by pushing or grabbing

is more general and can include organised or calm disputes
to go to the mat
vsto fight
  • Informal
5 7.6

Argue strongly to protect an idea or position

is more general, not only about determined defence
to have a quarrel
vsto fight
4 2.8

Argue with someone and feel angry or upset afterward

is more general and can be temporary or less personal
to fistfight
vsto fight
1 4.1

To hit another person with your bare hands in a fight

is more general, covering other kinds of physical or verbal conflict

Antonyms

111 4.2

Giving up after defeat, for example when an army stops fighting

109 4.1

To accept another person's control, often against your wishes

Idioms

To keep fighting until one side is defeated, even if people die

12 5.3

To use the same harsh methods as someone who attacks you

6 6.5

Try very hard to do something even though you will probably fail

2 8.5

To try to challenge the government or people in power when success seems unlikely

1 6.1

To try very hard to stay alive in a dangerous situation

Defend your ideas or what you want when others disagree

Phrasal Verbs

262 3.3

Resist an attack or criticism by responding

94 3.7

To keep away an attack, illness, or strong unwanted feeling

To try to make things fair and protect people's rights

Attack and try to defeat imaginary creatures in games or stories

To try hard to hold back a strong feeling

1 7.7

To avoid doing something because you do not want to try it

to chicken-fight
  • Informal
1 8.8

To sit on another person's shoulders and try to knock the other person off

Compounds

16 7.4

A violent attack between people using knives to hurt each other

14 1.0

A playful game where people hit each other with pillows

6 5.1

A violent fight between rival criminal groups

prize fight
  • Archaic
5 3.9

A boxing match between professional boxers to win money

mud fight
  • Informal
2 2.5

People play by throwing or smearing mud at each other

proxy fight
  • Literature
1 9.0

An attempt by some shareholders to get enough votes to replace company leaders and gain control

A very serious disagreement that becomes loud and violent

1 9.1

A large formal party for an important occasion

How Violent

to brawl
15 4.4
to battle
352 2.7
to fight
∞ 1.0
to argue
820 1.1

Surface Forms

fight infinitive
fighting present participle
fights third person singular
fought past
fought past participle

Etymology

The verb fight comes from an old English word feohtan that meant 'to strike' or 'to take part in a struggle'. So to fight is to join a physical or verbal conflict.