combat

[ verb kuhm-bat, kom-bat, kuhm-; noun kom-bat, kuhm- ]

verb (used with object)

, com·bat·ed, com·bat·ing or (especially British) com·bat·ted, com·bat·ting.

1. to fight or contend against; oppose vigorously:

   to combat crime.

   Synonyms: contest, struggle

verb (used without object)

, com·bat·ed, com·bat·ing or (especially British) com·bat·ted, com·bat·ting.

1. to battle; contend:

   to combat with disease.

   Synonyms: contest, struggle

noun

1. Military. active, armed fighting with enemy forces.
2. a fight, struggle, or controversy, as between two persons, teams, or ideas.

combat

noun

1. a fight, conflict, or struggle
2. 1. an action fought between two military forces
   2. ( as modifier )

      a combat jacket

3. single combat
   a fight between two individuals; duel
4. close combat or hand-to-hand combat
   fighting at close quarters

verb

1. tr to fight or defy
2. intr; often foll by with or against to struggle or strive (against); be in conflict (with)

   to combat against disease

Derived Forms

• comˈbatable, adjective
• comˈbater, noun

Other Words From

• com·bata·ble adjective
• inter·combat noun
• pre·combat noun verb precombated precombating or (especially British) precombatted precombatting
• self-com·bating adjective
• uncom·bata·ble adjective
• uncom·bated adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of combat¹

First recorded in 1535–45; from Middle French combat (noun), combattre (verb), from Late Latin combattere, from Latin com- com- + Late Latin battere, from Latin battuere “to strike, beat”

Word History and Origins

Origin of combat¹

C16: from French, from Old French combattre, from Vulgar Latin combattere (unattested), from Latin com- with + battuere to beat, hit

Synonym Study

See fight

Example Sentences

“To combat the river tubing deaths they demolished a bunch of the riverside bars that were selling buckets of vodka to people floating by,” one Western diplomat in the region told the BBC.

From BBC

Much like its predecessor, “Gladiator II” centers on spectacular gladiatorial games held at the Colosseum, which pits captive warriors like Lucius against other men as well as animals in combat.

From Los Angeles Times

In an unscheduled TV address, the Russian leader said the Oreshnik missile could not be intercepted and promised to carry out more tests, including in "combat conditions".

From BBC

Speaking a day later to senior defence officials, he said tests of the missile would continue, "including in combat conditions".

From BBC

It said it worked with the NCA to "identify and combat organised immigration crime online and respond to evolving threats".

From BBC

Related Words

• cope
• fight
• oppose
• repel
• resist
• withstand