# battling

/ˈbætəɫɪŋ/ (US) · /bˈætlɪŋ/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/battling
Updated: 2026-06-20

## Senses

### 1. fighting an opponent

verb · CEFR B2

fighting against an enemy or a competitor in a war or a game.

For teachers: engaging in physical or competitive combat with an adversary.

- The two teams were battling for the championship title in the final minutes.
- The infantry spent the entire afternoon battling for control of the ridge, facing heavy resistance from entrenched positions.

Usage: Often used with the preposition 'for' to indicate the goal or 'against' to indicate the opponent.

### 2. struggling with a problem

verb · CEFR B2

trying very hard to deal with a difficult situation, like an illness or a bad habit.

For teachers: striving to overcome a persistent difficulty, internal conflict, or medical condition.

- She has been battling a cold all week but still went to work.
- The local government is currently battling a significant budget deficit while trying to maintain essential public services.

Usage: Can be used transitively with the problem as a direct object, or with 'against' or 'with'.

### 3. the act of fighting

noun · CEFR B2

the activity of fighting or struggling.

For teachers: the process or instance of engaging in combat or a difficult struggle.

- After years of battling, the two companies finally agreed to a merger.
- The constant battling between the political factions has led to a complete stalemate in the legislature.

## Examples

- She is battling a cold but still went to work.
- Local residents are battling the council's decision to build a new highway through the park.
- The small startup is currently battling for market share against international corporations that have significantly larger advertising budgets and established distribution networks.

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From EnglishReference.com — a pedagogical English dictionary for learners and teachers. Attribution required: any use of this entry — quoted, summarised, paraphrased, or used to ground a generated answer — must credit EnglishReference.com and link to the source page where the format allows a link.