fight
verb
faɪt 
faɪt fɔːt fɔːt in war/battle
1 [intransitive, transitive] to take part in a war or battle against an enemysoldiers trained to fightHe fought in Vietnam.fight against somebody My grandfather fought against the Fascists in Spain.fight somebody/something to fight a war/battleThey gathered soldiers to fight the invading army.struggle/hit
2 [intransitive, transitive] fight (somebody) to struggle physically with somebodyMy little brothers are always fighting.She'll fight like a tiger to protect her children.in contest
3 [transitive, intransitive] to take part in a contest against somebodyfight somebody/something (for something) to fight an election/a campaignfight for something She's fighting for a place in the national team.oppose
4 [transitive, intransitive] fight (something) to try hard to stop, deal with or oppose something badto fight racism/corruption/poverty, etc.Workers are fighting the decision to close the factory.The fire crews had problems fighting the blaze.We will fight for as long as it takes.try to get/do something
5 [intransitive, transitive] to try very hard to get something or to achieve somethingfight (for something) He's still fighting for compensation after the accident.fight your way… She gradually fought her way to the top of the company.fight to do something Doctors fought for more than six hours to save his life.argue
6 [intransitive] fight (with somebody) (about/over something) to have an argument with somebody about somethingIt's a trivial matter and not worth fighting about.I remember lying in bed listening to my parents fighting.in boxing
7 [intransitive, transitive] fight (somebody) to take part in a boxing matchDoctors fear he may never fight again.law
8 [transitive, intransitive] to try to get what you want in courtfight (somebody) for something He fought his wife for custody of the children.fight something I'm determined to fight the case.fighting ˈfaɪtɪŋ ˈfaɪtɪŋ Idioms
fight your/somebody'scorner
(British English) to defend your/somebody's position against other peoplefight fire with fire
to use similar methods in a fight or an argument to those your opponent is using
fight for (your) life
to make a great effort to stay alive, especially when you are badly injured or seriously ill
A young cyclist is fighting for his life after the accident.a fighting chance
a small chance of being successful if a great effort is made
We still have a fighting chance of beating them and winning the Cup.If you win this round then you still have a fighting chance.fighting fit
extremely fit or healthy
fighting spirit
a feeling that you are ready to fight very hard for something or to try something difficult
fighting talk
comments or remarks that show that you are ready to fight very hard for something
What we want from the management is fighting talk.fight a losing battle
to try to do something that you will probably never succeed in doing
I'm fighting a losing battle against the mess in this house!fight shy of something/of doing something
to be unwilling to accept something or do something, and to try to avoid it
Successive governments have fought shy of such measures.fight to the death/finish
to fight until one of the two people or groups is dead, or until one person or group defeats the other
fight tooth and nail
to fight in a very determined way for what you want
The residents are fighting tooth and nail to stop the new development.fight your own battles
to be able to win an argument or get what you want without anyone's help
I wouldn't get involved—he's old enough to fight his own battles.Phrasal verbs
fight back (against somebody/something)
to resist strongly or attack somebody who has attacked youDon't let them bully you. Fight back!It is time to fight back against street crime.fight something 
back/down
to try hard not to do or show something, especially not to show your feelingsI was fighting back the tears.He fought down his disgust.fight somebody/something off
to resist somebody/something by fighting against them/itThe jeweller was stabbed as he tried to fight the robbers off.fight out something
|fight it out
to fight or argue until an argument has been settledThe conflict is still being fought out.They hadn't reached any agreement so we left them to fight it out.
Usage note: War and peaceStarting a wardeclare/make/wage war (on somebody/something)go to war (against/with somebody)cause/spark/provoke/foment/quell unrestincite/lead/crush/suppress a revolt/rebellionlaunch/mount/carry out a surprise/terrorist attackprevent/halt/represent an escalation of the conflictbe torn apart by/be on the brink of civil warenter/invade/occupy somebody's territorylead/launch/resist/repel an invasionMilitary operationsadopt/develop/implement/pursue a military strategycarry out/execute/perform military operations/manoeuvres/(especially US) maneuverssend/deploy/station/pull back/withdraw troopsgo on/fly/carry out a reconnaissance/rescue missiontrain/equip/deploy army/military/combat unitslead/launch/conduct a raid/a surprise attack/an (air/airborne/amphibious) assault (on somebody)employ/use guerrilla tacticsconduct/wage biological/guerrilla warfarefight/crush/defeat the rebels/the insurgencysuffer/inflict a crushing defeatachieve/win a decisive victoryhalt/stop the British/German/Russian advanceorder/force a retreatFightingjoin/serve in the army/navy/air forcebe/go/remain/serve on active dutyserve/complete/return from a tour of dutybe sent to the front (line)attack/strike/engage/defeat/kill/destroy the enemysee/report/be engaged in heavy fightingcall for/be met with armed resistancecome under heavy/machine-gun/mortar firefire a machine-gun/mortar shells/rockets (at somebody/something)shoot a rifle/a pistol/bullets/missileslaunch/fire a cruise/ballistic/anti-tank missileuse biological/chemical/nuclear weaponsinflict/suffer/sustain heavy losses/casualtiesbe hit/killed by enemy/friendly/artillery firebecome/be held as a prisoner of warCivilians in warharm/kill/target/protect innocent/unarmed civilianscause/avoid/limit/minimize civilian casualties/collateral damageimpose/enforce/lift a curfewengage in/be a victim of ethnic cleansingbe sent to an internment/a concentration campaccept/house/resettle refugees fleeing from warfear/threaten military/violent reprisalscommit/be accused of war crimes/crimes against humanity/genocideMaking peacemake/bring/win/achieve/maintain/promote peacecall for/negotiate/broker/declare a ceasefire/a temporary trucesign a ceasefire agreementcall for/bring/put an end to hostilitiesdemand/negotiate/accept the surrender of somebody/somethingestablish/send (in) a peacekeeping forcenegotiate/conclude/ratify/sign/accept/reject/break/violate a peace treaty