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

For some, that brand of fealty is in line with Trump’s choice for his secretary of Defense: conservative Fox News personality and military combat veteran Pete Hegseth.

From Los Angeles Times

At least two of those relationships with civilian Pentagon chiefs — retired Marine Gen. James N. Mattis and Army combat veteran Mark Esper — resulted in open acrimony, despite a long-standing reluctance on the part of current and retired military officers to publicly criticize the commander in chief.

From Los Angeles Times

For his part, Danson is doing his best to combat the fears of aging he had in his youth — with an assist from Jane Fonda.

From Los Angeles Times

Anthony Kyles recalls: “We were building cities in active combat zones.”

From Los Angeles Times

With Hegseth, this is obvious in his longing to kick women out of combat roles.

From Salon

Related Words

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