# War

/ˈwɔɹ/ (US) · /wˈɔː/ (UK)

Source: https://englishreference.com/word/war
Updated: 2026-08-15

## Senses

### 1. armed conflict

noun · CEFR A2

a period of fighting between countries or groups using military force.

For teachers: a state of organized, large-scale armed conflict between nations, states, or sizeable ethnic groups.

- The two countries have been at war for over three years.
- Historians continue to debate the complex geopolitical factors that eventually led the empire to declare war on its northern neighbours.

### 2. a struggle against something

noun · CEFR B1

a strong and organized effort to stop something bad or dangerous.

For teachers: a sustained and vigorous campaign or struggle against a specific social, political, or economic issue.

- The government has announced a new war on drugs to improve safety.
- The administration's war on poverty involved a series of legislative reforms aimed at providing better access to education and healthcare.

### 3. intense competition

noun · CEFR B2

a situation where people or companies compete very hard against each other.

For teachers: a state of intense competition or hostility between rival entities, such as businesses or political factions.

- The two supermarket chains are in a price war to attract more customers.
- The bidding war for the tech startup drove the final acquisition price far beyond its initial market valuation.

### 4. card game

noun · CEFR B1

a simple card game where players try to win all the cards.

For teachers: a card game of chance where players simultaneously reveal cards and the higher value wins the round.

- The children spent the rainy afternoon playing war with a deck of cards.
- While war is a game of pure luck, it remains a popular way to teach young children the relative values of playing cards.

### 6. to fight

verb · CEFR B2 · Literary

to be in a state of conflict or to fight with someone.

For teachers: to engage in a war or a sustained struggle; often used to describe internal or ideological conflict.

- He felt like two different parts of his personality were warring with each other.
- The novel depicts a protagonist warring against the restrictive social conventions of the Victorian era.

Usage: often takes the preposition 'with' or 'against'

## Examples

- The two countries are finally at peace after years of war.
- History books often focus on the causes of the Great War and how it changed international borders forever.
- While formal declarations of war have become rarer in the modern era, proxy conflicts and economic sanctions continue to define the geopolitical landscape between global superpowers.

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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.