# fighting

/ˈfaɪtɪŋ/ (US) · /fˈaɪtɪŋ/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 2. involved in a struggle

adjective · CEFR B2

describes someone or something that is currently in a battle or ready to struggle for something.

For teachers: actively engaged in combat or showing a strong readiness to struggle for a cause.

- The general led his fighting men into the valley at dawn.
- The candidate maintained a fighting spirit throughout the campaign, even when the polling data suggested an inevitable defeat.

## Examples

- The fighting stopped after the two sides signed a peace deal.
- Heavy fighting broke out in the city center as the two rival groups struggled for control of the main square.
- While the physical fighting had ceased following the ceasefire, the internal political struggle continued to divide the cabinet for several more months.

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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.