to combat starvation

5.1

To take action to stop people from dying of hunger

phrasal verb
/ˈkɒmbæt stɑːrˈveɪʃən/

: combatir la desnutrición

Many aid organizations are working to combat starvation in drought-affected regions.

Examples

The government launched new programs to help combat starvation during the crisis.
Community volunteers join forces to combat starvation by distributing food supplies.
We must combat starvation in our community!
The government is working to combat starvation in rural areas.
Community volunteers join forces to combat starvation by distributing food supplies.
Many aid organizations are working to combat starvation in drought-affected regions.
The government launched new programs to help combat starvation during the crisis.

Surface Forms

combat starvation infinitive

combated starvation past

combated starvation past participle

combating starvation present participle

combats starvation third person singular

Morphology

combat + starvation

The meaning 'to take action to prevent or reduce severe hunger' is directly and compositionally derived from 'combat' (to take action to oppose) + 'starvation' (severe lack of food). This verb + noun collocation follows a common, cross-linguistic pattern (fight/oppose + problem), so a B1 learner who knows both words is likely to infer the MWE meaning.

Etymology

Combat starvation uses a simple war picture: combat means to fight and starvation means extreme hunger, so imagine people 'fighting' hunger by bringing food and help. That's why it means 'to take action to stop people from starving'.