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to battle

to battle

372 2.7
To fight against someone or something for a long time
  • verb
  • /ˈbætəl/
translation icon : luchar
  • In contrast, the state legislators had to continually battle to get their voices heard.
  • battle for control
  • battle evil
  • battle the forces

For a few years I've been battling lupus and fibromyalgia.

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Examples

  • And these two things were battling in our political landscape.

  • Some battle oppressive governments, others battle oppressive societies.

  • Others do battle in his cause.

  • Then they found out about another option, but really had to battle the school for it.

    Academic text (2012)
  • But Braddock continues to battle.

  • In many high schools, physical educators are battling to keep physical education in the school curriculum.

    Academic text (1995)
  • We want a strong organization continually prepared to battle for those beliefs whenever the need arises.

    Academic text (1990)
  • The Detroit-area woman is 37 and has battled alcohol and heroin addiction.

    Academic text (2017)
  • Now Stevenson, unlike Keats, battled tuberculosis for decades.

  • The community had to battle for better living conditions despite numerous obstacles.

Synonyms

to fight
vsto battle
1.0

To take part in a physical or verbal struggle against someone

is a longer especially difficult conflict rather than a single clash
to struggle
vsto battle
139 2.7

To fight against someone or something, often with great effort

is more often an organized, prolonged fight rather than general effort
to combat
vsto battle
122 4.1

To fight something harmful like a disease or unfair treatment

is a broader term for prolonged, difficult conflict against someone or something
to wrestle
vsto battle
121 3.9

To struggle with a difficult problem or decision

is an external, often prolonged fight against someone or something
to clash
vsto battle
46 3.1

To disagree strongly with another person or group

refers to a longer, difficult fight rather than a sharp disagreement
to slug it out
vsto battle
  • Informal
7 8.0

Fight or compete hard until one side wins

is about an extended, difficult conflict beyond a single decisive contest
to tussle
vsto battle
7 5.3

To fight roughly with another person at close range

denotes a longer, harder conflict rather than a brief scuffle
to join battle
vsto battle
3 7.3

To take part in a fight or argument

describes the ongoing, often prolonged fight rather than joining it

Antonyms

187 4.1

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

77 4.2

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

Idioms

4 6.5

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

Get a small success but lose a bigger long-term goal

9.4

To ask someone how their work or task is going

Phrasal Verbs

To take part in a fight or argument

Walk together in an organized way toward a fight, showing determination

Compounds

27 3.5

A court case between two people or groups who disagree about legal rights

A court case between parents about who will look after their children

uphill battle
  • Informal
25 6.6

A difficult task that needs a lot of effort to succeed

battle station
  • Specialized
15 7.1

A place often on a ship where sailors or soldiers go to prepare for fighting

battle plan
  • Specialized
12 3.6

A plan for fighting that shows who will do what, where, and when

12 5.1

An effort that is not likely to succeed

An area where soldiers fight in a war

8 3.9

A loud shout or short phrase that encourages people to act together

A major World War II battle in winter 1944–45 in the Ardennes where Germany surprised Allied forces

battle group
  • Specialized
5 4.7

A group of troops from different countries ready to move quickly to a crisis

5 5.2

A clear division between people or groups in a conflict

battle cruiser
  • Archaic
5 7.2

A large warship with big guns made to be fast but with lighter armor than a battleship

A planned large fight where armies meet at an arranged time and place

battle of wits
  • Informal
4 6.1

A contest where people try to outsmart each other, for example in a debate or game

4 5.7

A flag carried at the front of an army to show who they are and guide soldiers

A long air fight in World War II when German planes attack British cities and fight Britain's air force

A major 1863 battle in the American Civil War where the Union army defeated General Lee

An early Civil War battle in Virginia where Confederate forces defeat Union troops

battle damage
  • Specialized
2 4.5

Harm to military vehicles or equipment caused in combat

battle fatigue
  • Archaic
2 8.2

Strong tiredness and fear that soldiers feel after long fighting

battle group
  • Specialized
2 4.7

A military unit made of several groups of soldiers formed to fight

battle fleet
  • Specialized
2 5.0

A group of military ships organized to fight together

A major battle on 18 June 1815 near Waterloo in which allied armies defeat Napoleon and end his rule

Damaged by war or long hardship, often with visible marks

2 4.0

A fight that happens at sea between warships

battle line
  • Specialized
1 5.0

A line where opposing armies stand and fight

battle dress
  • Specialized
1 6.0

A soldier's uniform worn for fighting and work in the field

battle-ax
  • Slur
1 9.3

A forceful woman who speaks sharply and frightens other people

1 8.4

A large ax with a wide blade used in battle

line of battle
  • Archaic
1 8.1

A row of soldiers or ships arranged to fight the enemy

A famous fight in northern France in 1415 where English soldiers beat a larger French army

A 1066 battle where William the Conqueror defeats King Harold II and begins Norman rule in England

A major sea battle in 1805 off Spain where Nelson's British navy defeated the French and Spanish fleets

A major World War I battle in 1916 that caused many deaths

An important sea battle in World War II where American ships defeated a Japanese fleet near Midway in June 1942

A major 1864 Civil War battle in which Union forces captured and burned much of Atlanta

An early battle of the American Revolution near Boston in which the British won but suffered heavy losses

A major 1863 Civil War battle where Lee's Southern army defeats Hooker's Northern army

A major 1942 World War II battle in North Africa where Allied forces defeated German and Italian armies

A major fight in World War II from 1942 to 1943 when American forces took Guadalcanal back from Japan

A 1945 World War II battle where American forces took Iwo Jima from Japanese soldiers after heavy fighting

A major Civil War battle in 1862 in Tennessee with very heavy losses

A 1941 World War II battle in which Japanese forces captured Wake Island from outnumbered American marines

A battle in December 1941 where Japan captured Wake Island after American marines fought hard

An 1836 fight in Texas when Mexican forces attacked the Alamo and killed the people defending it

A sea battle in May 1942 fought only by planes from aircraft carriers that stops a Japanese advance

Major World War I battle in northwest France where Allied forces defeat the German army in 1918

A 1876 battle in Montana where United States soldiers led by Custer lose to Sioux and Cheyenne warriors

A major 1778 battle in New Jersey during the American Revolution that ended with the British leaving

A major battle in 42 BC near Philippi where Octavian and Mark Antony defeated Brutus and Cassius

A World War I battle near Ypres where Germans first used poison gas on a large scale

A major World War I battle in 1916 near Verdun, France between French and German armies

1 5.3

An informal struggle to lose weight or stop gaining weight

battle royal
  • Informal
1 7.0

A noisy fight involving many people in one place

legendary battle
  • Literature
1 7.2

A famous fight between armies often told in stories and myths

1 5.5

A failed attempt to beat an illness or other serious problem

Octavian wins a sea battle in 31 BC against Antony and Cleopatra, starting the Roman Empire

A major 1805 battle where Napoleon's French army defeated Russian and Austrian armies

A 1314 battle near Stirling where Robert the Bruce's Scottish army beat the English and made Scotland independent

A World War II battle where Japanese forces defeated American and Filipino troops on the Bataan peninsula in the Philippines

A major 1704 battle in which the Duke of Marlborough and Prince Eugene defeated the French

A major 1812 battle near Borodino between Napoleon's army and Russian forces with heavy losses

An important 1485 battle in England where Richard III dies and Henry Tudor becomes king

A battle in 937 when King Athelstan defeated Scots and Vikings and helped make England the main power in Britain

A major 1847 battle in northern Mexico where US forces led by Zachary Taylor defeat Santa Anna's army

A major fight near Chaeronea, either in 338 BC when Philip II won, or in 86 BC when Sulla won

An important battle during the Mexican-American War in 1847 when the American army defeated Mexican soldiers near Mexico City

A major 1863 American Civil War battle where Union forces defeat the Confederate army

A major 1863 Civil War battle where Confederate forces defeat Union troops

A battle in the Korean War in November 1950 when Chinese troops push back United Nations forces

A battle during the American Revolutionary War in 1781 where American forces led by Daniel Morgan defeated the British

A battle in February 1944 when American forces captured the Japanese-held atoll of Eniwetok in the Marshall Islands

A 1513 battle in northern England where the English army defeated the Scots and their king died

How Intense

combat
854 3.5
to battle
372 2.7
to fight
1.0
to resist
311 2.2
to oppose
2.9

Surface Forms

battle infinitive
battled past
battled past participle
battling present participle
battles third person singular

Etymology

The verb battle comes from the same Old French bataille and Latin battuere 'to beat'. That's why to battle someone or something is to fight or struggle hard against them.