# fight

/ˈfaɪt/ (US) · /fˈaɪt/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/fight
Updated: 2026-06-19

## Senses

### 1. physical struggle

noun · CEFR A2

an occasion where people use physical force against each other.

For teachers: a physical confrontation or combat between individuals or groups.

- The two boys got into a fight on the playground during lunch break.
- The peaceful protest unfortunately devolved into a violent fight after several agitators began throwing stones at the security line.

### 2. argument

noun · CEFR A2

an angry disagreement or a verbal struggle between people.

For teachers: a verbal dispute or disagreement, often characterized by anger or hostility.

- They had a big fight about money and didn't speak for two days.
- What started as a minor misunderstanding over household chores escalated into a bitter fight that lasted the entire weekend.

### 3. sports match

noun · CEFR B1

a boxing or martial arts match.

For teachers: a professional or amateur bout in combat sports such as boxing, wrestling, or MMA.

- We bought tickets to see the heavyweight fight at the arena tonight.
- The championship fight was decided in the final round by a technical knockout, much to the surprise of the spectators.

### 4. will to succeed

noun · CEFR B2

the desire or ability to keep trying when things are difficult.

For teachers: the internal spirit, courage, or determination required to continue struggling against opposition.

- The team lost the game, but they showed a lot of fight until the end.
- Despite the grim diagnosis, the patient still had plenty of fight left in her and committed fully to the recovery programme.

### 5. to engage in combat

verb · CEFR A2

to use physical force or weapons against someone.

For teachers: to engage in physical conflict or battle against an opponent.

- Soldiers were sent to the border to fight the invading army.
- The two rival factions have been fighting over this small territory for more than a decade with no resolution in sight.

### 6. to struggle for a cause

verb · CEFR B1

to work very hard to achieve something or to stop something bad.

For teachers: to strive vigorously for a specific goal or to campaign against an injustice or social issue.

- She spent her whole life fighting for women's rights in her country.
- The local community is fighting to prevent the historic library from being demolished to make way for a luxury apartment complex.

### 7. to resist a feeling

verb · CEFR B2

to try hard not to show or feel an emotion.

For teachers: to struggle to suppress or control an internal impulse, emotion, or physiological reaction.

- He had to fight back tears during the sad movie.
- She struggled to fight the urge to laugh during the serious ceremony, biting her lip to maintain a professional expression.

## Examples

- The two players got into a fight during the game.
- The referee stopped the fight in the third round after one boxer suffered a heavy blow.
- What began as a minor tactical disagreement between the coaches eventually escalated into a public fight that divided the entire fan base.

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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.