war
/wɔ:/
Học thuậtThân thiện
Definition
Noun:
- A state of armed conflict between different nations, states, or groups: "War" refers to a period of large-scale, organized fighting involving the use of weapons and military forces.
- A sustained campaign against an undesirable situation or activity: "War" can also describe a vigorous, concerted effort to end something harmful, such as crime or disease.
- A state of competition, conflict, or hostility between different people or groups: "War" can be used metaphorically to describe any intense struggle or rivalry.
Verb:
- To engage in an armed conflict: To fight a war.
- To contend or struggle vigorously: To be in a state of conflict or opposition.
Examples of Usage
Noun:
- The country has not been involved in a major war for decades.
- The government declared a war on drugs to combat addiction.
- There is a constant war between the two companies for market dominance.
Verb:
- The two tribes warred against each other for control of the valley. (archaic/formal)
- The factions have been warring for years over the disputed territory.
Advanced Usage
- "To be at war": To be in a state of active, open armed conflict.
- The two nations have been at war for three years.
- "To declare war on/against": To formally announce the beginning of a state of war.
- The congress voted to declare war on the aggressor.
- "War of attrition": A prolonged conflict in which each side tries to wear the other down through continuous losses.
- The battle turned into a grueling war of attrition.
- "War of words": A fierce argument or exchange of angry statements.
- The debate escalated into a bitter war of words between the candidates.
Variants and Related Words
- Warfare (n): The actual process, techniques, or methods of fighting a war.
- Guerrilla warfare was used effectively by the rebels.
- Warlike (adj): Aggressively disposed; ready for or suggesting war.
- The warlike rhetoric increased tensions.
- Warrior (n): A person engaged or experienced in warfare; a fighter.
- The ancient warriors were highly respected.
- Warring (adj): Engaged in a war or conflict.
- The two warring factions agreed to a ceasefire.
Synonyms
- Conflict: A serious disagreement or struggle.
- Combat: Active fighting between armed forces.
- Hostilities: Acts of warfare.
- Struggle: A forceful effort to get free or to achieve something.
Related Phrases (Phrasal Verbs)
- War on/against (something): A concerted effort to eradicate something.
- The mayor launched a war on potholes in the city streets.
- War over (something): To fight or contend for control of something.
- The siblings warred over their father's inheritance.
Related Idioms
- All's fair in love and war: In intense, competitive situations, any action is acceptable.
- He stole my client, but I guess all's fair in love and war.
- Have been in the wars (informal): To be injured or look battered, as if from fighting.
- After the rugby match, he looked like he'd been in the wars.
- A tug of war: A contest in which two sides pull against each other on a rope; any intense struggle for supremacy.
- There was a political tug of war over the new legislation.
Noun
- a concerted campaign to end something that is injurious
- the war on poverty
- the war against crime
- an active struggle between competing entities
- a price war
- a war of wits
- diplomatic warfare
- a legal state created by a declaration of war and ended by official declaration during which the international rules of war apply
- war was declared in November but actual fighting did not begin until the following spring
- the waging of armed conflict against an enemy
- thousands of people were killed in the war
Verb
- make or wage war