fight
/faɪt/ (bre, ipa) · /faɪt/ (ame, ipa) · /ˈfīt/ (ame, mw)
fight — verb
1. to attack or defend yourself against someone by hitting, pushing, or using other
to attack or defend yourself against someone by hitting, pushing, or using other physical actions, usually to win or protect yourself.
Two boys started to fight in the school playground over a basketball.
collocation: start to fight over [something]
Nora had to fight off a group of attackers who cornered her in the parking lot.
phrasal verb: fight off
The soldiers were ordered to fight until the enemy forces were completely defeated.
Amira refused to fight her younger brother because she knew it would only upset their mother.
- make peace
To end a fight or disagreement.
- surrender
To stop fighting and accept defeat.
文法句型
fight + someone
fight + with/against + someone
fight + for + something
用法筆記
Frequently used with 'against' (fight against an enemy) or 'with' (fight with someone). When the object is a person, 'fight' can be transitive (fight someone) or intransitive with a preposition (fight with someone).
常見錯誤
2. to try very hard with all your energy to get something you want, change a bad si
to try very hard with all your energy to get something you want, change a bad situation, or prevent something bad from happening.
Christopher has been fighting for better working conditions at the factory for over a year.
collocation: fight for [a cause/goal]
Doctors fought to save the injured child's life after the car accident.
fight + to-infinitive for effort toward a goal
Local residents are fighting against the construction of a new highway through the forest.
Nia fought her fear of heights and finally agreed to go rock climbing with her friends.
文法句型
fight + for + something
fight + against + something
fight + to + infinitive
fight + noun (e.g. disease, injustice)
用法筆記
Commonly used with abstract objects (fight poverty, fight disease, fight injustice). The pattern 'fight for [something]' emphasizes what you hope to gain, while 'fight against [something]' emphasizes what you oppose.
常見錯誤
3. to speak angrily to someone because the two of you disagree about something.
to speak angrily to someone because the two of you disagree about something.
Sivan and her older sister fight about whose turn it is to wash the dishes.
collocation: fight about [topic]
The two politicians fought over the new tax plan during the live television debate.
collocation: fight over [topic]
Tyler and his roommate fought all weekend over the noise from their late-night parties.
Constanza fought with her parents about staying out past midnight on a school night.
文法句型
fight + with + someone + about/over + something
fight + about/over + something
用法筆記
Distinguish from sense 1: this sense is always verbal — no physical contact. The prepositions 'about' and 'over' introduce the subject of disagreement, while 'with' introduces the other person.
常見錯誤
❌ 'My parents always fight.' — This works but is ambiguous between physical (sense 1) and verbal (sense 3). Add context like 'about money' to clarify.
4. to compete as one of two opponents in a boxing, wrestling, or mixed martial arts
to compete as one of two opponents in a boxing, wrestling, or mixed martial arts match.
The heavyweight champion will fight his challenger at the big stadium next Saturday night.
transitive: fight + opponent
Haruto has been training for six months to fight in the national judo championship.
intransitive: fight in [competition]
Yael fought three matches in one day at the wrestling tournament and won them all.
The retired champion decided to fight one last bout to raise money for charity.
文法句型
fight + someone + for + title
fight + in/at + event
用法筆記
Typically used for combat sports only (boxing, wrestling, MMA, judo). For team sports like football or basketball, use 'play', not 'fight'. Common in news reporting about upcoming boxing matches.
常見錯誤
fight — noun
1. a situation in which people attack each other physically or shout at each other
a situation in which people attack each other physically or shout at each other angrily because they disagree or feel angry.
A fight broke out between two fans in the stadium after the final whistle.
collocation: a fight breaks out
Andrew got into a fight outside the nightclub and ended up with a black eye.
collocation: get into a fight
Lisa and her colleague had a terrible fight about who should take credit for the project.
The teacher separated the two children before their fight in the classroom got worse.
文法句型
have + a fight
get into + a fight
pick + a fight
a fight + breaks out
用法筆記
Can refer to both physical and verbal confrontations. Context determines which is meant: 'had a fight' often implies verbal when the people involved are not described as physically aggressive.
常見錯誤
2. an occasion when someone works very hard and uses all their energy to reach a go
an occasion when someone works very hard and uses all their energy to reach a goal, change things, or stop something bad from happening.
The fight for racial equality has made real progress over the past fifty years.
collocation: fight for [social cause]
Doctors say her fight against cancer inspired everyone in the hospital.
collocation: fight against [disease]
The team put up a good fight despite being far behind, and they almost tied the score.
The fight against poverty requires more investment in education and job training.
- surrender
The act of accepting defeat without further effort.
文法句型
a fight + for + something
a fight + against + something
put up + a fight
用法筆記
Often used in political, social, or medical contexts. 'A fight for [something]' emphasizes the goal; 'a fight against [something]' emphasizes the opposition. 'Put up a fight' is a fixed phrase meaning to resist despite likely defeat.
3. a boxing match or other combat-sports contest between two athletes who compete t
a boxing match or other combat-sports contest between two athletes who compete to win by knocking out or outscoring the opponent.
The championship fight between the two boxers sold out the arena in just two hours.
collocation: championship fight
Zayd has tickets to watch the big fight at the stadium this weekend.
informal: big fight = major boxing event
The referee stopped the fight in the fifth round when the challenger could not defend himself.
The two women fought a tough fight that lasted all twelve rounds of the match.
文法句型
a fight + between + two fighters
a fight + for + the title
用法筆記
Unlike the verb sense 4, this noun is rarely used for non-combat sports. For non-combat sports, use 'match' or 'game'. In informal contexts, 'the big fight' can refer to any major boxing match everyone is talking about.
4. the strong desire, energy, and refusal to give up that keeps someone trying when
the strong desire, energy, and refusal to give up that keeps someone trying when a situation is very difficult.
The young tennis player lost the first two sets but showed great fight and came back to win.
uncountable: show fight = show determination
The old boxer may have lost his speed, but he still has plenty of fight left in him.
idiomatic: have fight left in [someone]
The coach praised the team for their fight and spirit even though they lost the match.
Despite the huge setback, the rescue workers continued their work with real fight.
- spirit
Emphasizes courage and enthusiasm; broader than 'fight'.
- determination
Focuses on the resolve to keep going; more neutral in register.
- tenacity
Formal; the quality of holding firmly to a goal despite obstacles.
文法句型
have + fight + in + someone
full of + fight
用法筆記
Always uncountable in this sense. Often appears in the fixed expression 'fight in someone' (e.g. 'there is still fight in him'). Do not use with an article: 'a fight' in this sense would be interpreted as sense 1 or 2.