# fought

/ˈfɔt/ (US) · /fˈɔːt/ (UK)

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

## Senses

### 1. past tense of fight

verb · CEFR A2

the past form of 'fight', used when people used physical force or weapons against each other.

For teachers: the past tense of 'fight' in the sense of engaging in physical combat or warfare.

- The two armies fought a long battle in the valley many years ago.
- The soldiers fought with remarkable bravery despite being outnumbered and having limited access to supplies during the winter siege.

Usage: This is the irregular past form of 'fight'; do not use 'fighted'.

### 2. argued or disagreed

verb · CEFR B1

used when people had a strong or angry disagreement in the past.

For teachers: the past tense of 'fight' in the sense of engaging in a verbal dispute or a heated argument.

- The couple fought about money for years before they finally reached an agreement.
- The siblings fought constantly throughout their childhood, yet they developed a profound mutual respect once they reached adulthood.

### 3. struggled for a goal

verb · CEFR B1

used when someone worked very hard to achieve something or to stop something bad.

For teachers: the past tense of 'fight' used figuratively to describe a determined effort to overcome an obstacle or achieve a social goal.

- She fought for better working conditions at her office until the manager listened.
- The activists fought tirelessly for decades to secure voting rights, eventually influencing the passage of landmark legislation.

## Examples

- The two countries fought a long war over the border.
- The local community fought the new highway project for years until the government finally changed the plans.
- Although they fought bitterly during the primary elections, the candidates eventually united to support the party's platform in the general campaign.

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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.