Verb

Infinitive to fight

Third person singular fights

Simple past fought

Past participle fought or foughten

Present participle fighting

to fight (third-person singular simple present fights, present participle fighting, simple past fought, past participle fought or foughten)

1. (intransitive) To contend in physical conflict, either singly or in war, battle etc.
   • The two boxers have been fighting for more than half an hour.
   • A wounded animal will fight like a maniac.
2. (intransitive) To strive for; to campaign or contend for success.
   • He fought for the Democrats in the last election.
3. (transitive) To conduct or engage in (battle, warfare etc.).
   • The battle was fought just over that hill.
4. (transitive) To engage in combat with; to oppose physically, to contest with.
   • My grandfather fought the Nazis in World War II.
5. (transitive) To try to overpower; to fiercely counteract.
   • The government pledged to fight corruption.

Synonyms

• See also Wikisaurus:fight

Derived terms

• fight back
• fight fire with fire
• fightest

• fight shy of
• fight tooth and nail

Combat, or fighting, is purposeful violent conflict intended to establish dominance over the opposition.

The term combat (French for fight) typically refers to armed conflict between military forces in warfare, whereas the more general term "fighting" can refer to any violent conflict. Combat violence can be unilateral, whereas fighting implies at least a defensive reaction. However, the terms are often used synonymously along with the term "Battle Ready".

Combat may take place under a certain set of rules or be unregulated. Examples of rules include the Geneva Conventions (covering the treatment of soldiers in war), medieval Chivalry, and the Marquess of Queensberry rules (covering boxing).

Combat in warfare involves two or more opposing military organizations, usually fighting for nations at war (although guerrilla warfare and suppression of insurgencies can fall outside this definition). Warfare falls under the laws of war, which govern its purposes and conduct, and protect the rights of soldiers and non-combatants.

Combat may be armed (using weapons), or unarmed (not using weapons). Hand-to-hand combat (melee) is combat at very close range, feeling the opponent with the body (striking, kicking, strangling, etc.) and/or with a melee weapon (knives, swords, batons, etc.), as opposed to a ranged weapon.

Hand-to-hand combat can be further divided into three sections depending on the distance and positioning of the combatants:

• Clinch fighting
• Ground fighting
• Stand-up fighting