A war is a period of fighting or conflict between countries or states.
He spent part of the war in the National Guard.
...matters of war and peace.
They've been at war for the last fifteen years.
Synonyms: conflict, drive, attack, fighting More Synonyms of war
2. variable noun
War is intense economic competition between countries or organizations.
The most important thing is to reach an agreement and to avoid a trade war.
3. variable noun
If you make waron someone or something that you are opposed to, you do things to stop them succeeding.
She has been involved in the war against organised crime. [+ against]
...if the United States is to be successful in its war on corruption. [+ on]
4. See also civil war, Cold War, council of war, warring
5.
See be in the wars
6.
See go to war
7.
See war of words
8. to lose the battle but win the war
More Synonyms of war
war in British English
(wɔː)
noun
1.
open armed conflict between two or more parties, nations, or states
▶ Related adjectives: belligerent, martial
2.
a particular armed conflict
the war between Sparta and Athens
3.
the techniques of armed conflict as a study, science, or profession
4.
any conflict or contest
a war of wits
the war against crime
5. (modifier)
of, relating to, resulting from, or characteristic of war
a war hero
war damage
a war story
6. to have had a good war
7. in the wars
verbWord forms: wars, warring or warred
8. (intransitive)
to conduct a war
Word origin
C12: from Old Northern French werre (variant of Old French guerre), of Germanic origin; related to Old High German werra
War. in British English
abbreviation for
Warwickshire
Warwickshire in British English
(ˈwɒrɪkˌʃɪə, -ʃə)
noun
a county of central England: until 1974, when the West Midlands metropolitan county was created, it contained one of the most highly industrialized regions in the world, centred on Birmingham. Administrative centre: Warwick. Pop: 519 300 (2003 est). Area: 1981 sq km (765 sq miles)
war in American English1
(wɔr)
noun
1.
open armed conflict between countries or between factions within the same country
2.
any active hostility, contention, or struggle; conflict
the war against disease
3. Obsolete
a battle
4.
military operations as a profession or science
adjective
5.
of, used in, or resulting from war
verb intransitiveWord forms: warred or ˈwarring
6.
to carry on war; engage in military conflict
7.
to be in a state of hostility or contention; contend; strive
Idioms:
at war
declare war (on)
go to war
Word origin
ME werre < NormFr < Frank *werra, confusion, strife, akin ? to OHG (fir)werran, to confuse < ?
war in American English2
(wɑr)
adjective, adverb
Scottish and North England
worse
Word origin
ME < ON verre, adj., verr, adv.; akin to OHG werran, to confuse
More idioms containing
war
someone has won the battle, but lost the war
a war of nerves
all's fair in love and war
a war of words
Examples of 'war' in a sentence
war
This can lead to war heroes being trapped in ineffective treatments instead of being seen by experts.
The Sun (2016)
It was a poor performance and there was the civil war afterwards.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
Win the war by conceding control over timing.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
Over the past few years there has been a price war between tracker providers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
This is surely why our ancestors fought two world wars.
The Sun (2016)
War crimes have no statute of limitations.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
If the war lasted our defeat seemed inevitable.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
No one will emerge as a winner in a trade war.
Times, Sunday Times (2017)
None of them represents a crossing of the boundary between peace and war but they are all slightly of concern.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
As conscientious objectors, this was a way for them to do their part for the war effort.
Smithsonian Mag (2017)
They were so important during the war.
The Sun (2011)
WE'RE used to being warned to avoid war zones.
The Sun (2006)
Winning the war was surely just a matter of time.
Claudia Hammond EMOTIONAL ROLLERCOASTER: A Journey Through the Science of Feelings (2005)
These signs of a price war show that they are upping their game.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
She is organised not only for war but for peace.
Times, Sunday Times (2013)
The two world wars caused immense loss and dislocation.
Stearns, Peter N. World History: Patterns of Change and Continuity (1995)
This is the time of ongoing war crimes trials.
Times, Sunday Times (2008)
The second world war has received so much more attention because it offers a simpler tale.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The media arm of the group is an integral part of its war effort.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
But the election was not about the conduct of the war.
Grenville, J. A. S. The Collins History of the World in the 20th Century (1994)
Inside are many of the heroes of the war with ebola.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Trade and war were the unholy twins of commerce.
Malcolm Balen A VERY ENGLISH DECEIT: The Secret History of the South Sea Bubble and the First GreatFinancial Scandal (2002)
He also declared war on highly paid bankers and executives.
The Sun (2010)
These activities grew to be increasingly important as the war progressed.
Patrick Bishop FIGHTER BOYS: Saving Britain 1940 (2003)
There are other times when we might avoid a war by more careful diplomacy.
Christianity Today (2000)
We use our military to win wars.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
High cotton costs and the retail price war are squeezing suppliers.
The Sun (2011)
He served his nation in war and peace in so many ways.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
The original had two warring families and the daughter of one married the son of another.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
Human rights campaigners say that civilian deaths in many drone strikes amounts to a war crime.
Times, Sunday Times (2012)
The war on the ground and the conflict in the head are combined in a work of art.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
Perhaps too many had died in their civil war for superior foreign armies to present so terrible a challenge.
Charles Glass The Tribes Triumphant (2006)
It's from the last war.
Paige, Frances The Glasgow Girls (1994)
There were 80,000 butchers in Britain after the last war.
The Sun (2014)
Yes, that country is now a disaster area, with a fully fledged civil war.
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
Quotations
War is nothing but the continuation of politics by other meansKarl von ClausewitzOn War
Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshedMao ZedongOn Protracted War
There was never a good war, or a bad peaceBenjamin Franklin
War makes rattling good history; but Peace is poor readingThomas HardyThe Dynasts
He that makes a good war makes a good peaceGeorge HerbertOutlandish Proverbs
O I know they make war because they want peace; they hate so that they may live; and they destroy the present to make the world safe for the future. When have they not done and said they did it for that?Elizabeth SmartNecessary Secrets
For what can war but endless war still breed?John MiltonSonnet, On the Lord General Fairfax
Above all, this book is not concerned with Poetry, The subject of it is War, and the Pity of War. The Poetry is in the PityWilfred OwenPoems (preface)
As long as war is regarded as wicked, it will always have its fascination. When it is looked upon as vulgar, it will cease to be popularOscar WildeThe Critic as Artist
In war, whichever side may call itself the victor, there are no winners, but all are losersNeville Chamberlain
War is too serious a matter to entrust to military menGeorges Clemenceau
War is like love, it always finds a wayBertolt BrechtMother Courage and Her Children
It is easier to make war than to make peaceGeorges Clemenceau
During the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called war; and such a war as is of every managainst every manThomas HobbesLeviathan
History is littered with the wars which everybody knew would never happenEnoch Powellspeech to the Conservative Party Conference
Let slip the dogs of warWilliam ShakespeareJulius Caesar
War is the trade of kingsJohn DrydenKing Arthur
The quickest way of ending a war is to lose itGeorge OrwellShooting an Elephant
Sometime they'll give a war and nobody will comeCarl Sandburg`The People, Yes'
Since war begins in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructedConstitution of UNESCO
The next war will be fought with atom bombs and the one after that with spearsHarold Urey
War will cease when men refuse to fightpacifist slogan
After each war there is a little less democracy to saveBrooks AtkinsonOnce Around the Sun
What if someone gave a war and Nobody came? Life would ring the bells of Ecstasy and Forever be Itself againAllen GinsbergThe Fall of America
In the fall the war was always there but we did not go to it any moreErnest HemingwayMen Without Women
All is fair in love and war
In other languages
war
British English: war /wɔː/ NOUN
A war is a period of fighting between countries.
They've been at war for the last 15 years.
American English: war
Arabic: حَرْب
Brazilian Portuguese: guerra
Chinese: 战争
Croatian: rat
Czech: válka
Danish: krig
Dutch: oorlog
European Spanish: guerra
Finnish: sota
French: guerre
German: Krieg
Greek: πόλεμος
Italian: guerra
Japanese: 戦争
Korean: 전쟁
Norwegian: krig
Polish: wojna
European Portuguese: guerra
Romanian: război
Russian: война
Latin American Spanish: guerra
Swedish: krig
Thai: สงคราม
Turkish: savaş
Ukrainian: війна
Vietnamese: chiến tranh
All related terms of 'war'
at war
in a state of active armed conflict
air war
the part of a political campaign that is conducted over the radio and television airwaves by senior politicians
cod war
any of three disputes that occurred in 1958, 1972–73, and 1975–76 between Britain and Iceland , concerning Iceland's unilateral extension of her fishing limits
hot war
actual warfare
nym war
a dispute about the right to publish material on the internet under a fictitious name
pre-war
Pre-war is used to describe things that happened , existed, or were made in the period immediately before a war, especially the Second World War, 1939-45.
war cry
a rallying cry used by combatants in battle
Boer War
either of two conflicts between Britain and the South African Boers , the first (1880–1881) when the Boers sought to regain the independence given up for British aid against the Zulus , the second (1899–1902) when the Orange Free State and Transvaal declared war on Britain
civil war
A civil war is a war which is fought between different groups of people who live in the same country.
class war
Marxism → another name for class struggle
cold war
The Cold War was the period of hostility and tension between the Soviet bloc and the Western powers that followed the Second World War.
dirty war
a war that is not fought in a conventional way observing the rules of war, but is a clandestine war involving assassinations etc
fare war
a period of intense competition among airlines , characterized by repeated fare reductions rather than advertising , brand promotion, etc
flame war
an exchange of angry or abusive e-mails
Great War
World War I
Gulf War
the war (1991) between US-led UN forces and Iraq , following Iraq's invasion of Kuwait
holy war
a war waged in the cause of a religion
opium war
one of the two wars (1839–42; 1856–60) between China and Britain resulting from the Chinese refusal to allow the importation of opium from India
phony war
(in wartime ) a period of apparent calm and inactivity, esp the period at the beginning of World War II
post-war
Post-war is used to describe things that happened , existed, or were made in the period immediately after a war, especially the Second World War, 1939-45.
price war
If competing companies are involved in a price war , they each try to gain an advantage by lowering their prices as much as possible in order to sell more of their products and damage their competitors financially.
trade war
an economic conflict in which countries impose import restrictions on each other in order to harm each other's trade
turf war
A turf war is a struggle between criminals or gangs over who controls a particular area.
war baby
a child born in wartime , esp the illegitimate child of a soldier
war bond
debt securities issued by a government for the purpose of financing military operations during times of war
war bride
a soldier's bride met as a result of troop movements in wartime , esp a foreign national
war chest
A war chest is a fund to finance a project such as a political campaign.
war crime
a crime committed in wartime in violation of the accepted rules and customs of war, such as genocide , ill-treatment of prisoners of war, etc
war dance
a ceremonial dance performed before going to battle or after victory , esp by certain Native American peoples
war fever
widespread enthusiasm for going to war
war game
War games are military exercises that are carried out for the purpose of training, and that are designed to imitate a real war as closely as possible.
war grave
a grave of a person killed in battle ; a ship that was sunk in battle with troops aboard
war hawk
→ hawk 1 (sense 2 )
war hero
a person who is admired for bravery in war
war horse
a horse used in battle; charger
war paint
War paint is the paint which some groups of people used to decorate their faces and bodies before they fought a battle.
war room
a room in the building of a military , political , or business organization equipped with the technical means to gather information, plan strategy , direct activities, etc., esp. for a military or political campaign
war story
an account or anecdote concerning one's personal experiences, esp. in military combat , during a war
war-torn
ravaged by war
war-weary
tired of fighting; tired of war
war whoop
the yell or howl uttered , esp by Native Americans, while making an attack
war widow
A war widow is a woman whose husband was killed while he was in the armed forces during a war.
war zone
an area where a war is taking place or there is some other violent conflict
world war
A world war is a war that involves countries all over the world.
Barons' War
either of two civil wars in 13th-century England. The First Barons ' War (1215–17) was precipitated by King John's failure to observe the terms of Magna Carta : many of the Barons' grievances were removed by his death (1216) and peace was concluded in 1217. The Second Barons' War (1264–67) was caused by Henry III's refusal to accept limitations on his authority: the rebel Barons (led (1264–65) by Simon de Montfort ), initially successful , were defeated at the battle of Evesham (1265); sporadic resistance continued until 1267
bidding war
a situation in which multiple offerers bid to own a single property
Crimean War
the war fought mainly in Crimea between Russia on one side and Turkey , France, Sardinia , and Britain on the other (1853–56)
go to war
If a country goes to war , it starts fighting a war.
ground war
the part of a political campaign that is conducted door-to-door by party workers in individual constituencies
Korean War
the war (1950–53) fought between North Korea , aided by Communist China , and South Korea, supported by the US and other members of the UN
Chinese translation of 'war'
war
(wɔːʳ)
n(c/u)
(= fighting) 战(戰)争(爭) (zhànzhēng) (场(場), chǎng)
(fig, = competition) 战(戰)争(爭) (zhànzhēng)
⇒ a trade/price war一场贸易/价格战 (yī chǎng màoyì/jiàgé zhàn)
to be at war (with sb)(与(與)某人)进(進)行战(戰)争(爭) ((yǔ mǒurén) jìnxíng zhànzhēng)
to go to war开(開)战(戰) (kāizhàn)
to make war on sb/sth向某人/某事开(開)战(戰) (xiàng mǒurén/mǒushì kāizhàn)
a war on drugs/crime同毒品/犯罪的斗(鬥)争(爭) (tóng dúpǐn/fànzuì de dòuzhēng)
war of words口诛(誅)笔(筆)伐 (kǒu zhū bǐ fá)
All related terms of 'war'
pre-war
二战(戰)前的 Èrzhàn qián de
civil war
内(內)战(戰) nèizhàn [ 场(場) chǎng ]
war of words
口诛(誅)笔(筆)伐 kǒu zhū bǐ fá
prisoner of war
战(戰)俘 zhànfú [ 名 míng ]
to go to war
开(開)战(戰) kāizhàn
Second World War
▶ the Second World War 第二次世界大战(戰) Dì Èr Cì Shìjiè Dàzhàn
the post-war era
战(戰)后(後)年代 zhànhòu niándài
the horrors of war
战(戰)争(爭)的恐怖 zhànzhēng de kǒngbù
the Second World War
第二次世界大战(戰) Dì Èr Cì Shìjiè Dàzhàn
World War One/Two
第一次/第二次世界大战(戰) dì yī cì/dì èr cì shìjiè dàzhàn
a war on drugs/crime
同毒品/犯罪的斗(鬥)争(爭) tóng dúpǐn/fànzuì de dòuzhēng
to make war on sb/sth
向某人/某事开(開)战(戰) xiàng mǒurén/mǒushì kāizhàn
"War may break out," he warned
"战(戰)争(爭)可能会(會)爆发(發)，"他警告道 "zhànzhēng kěnéng huì bàofā, " tā jǐnggào dào
as the war enters its second month
当(當)战(戰)争(爭)进(進)入第2个(個)月时(時) dāng zhànzhēng jìnrù dì'èr gè yuè shí
open armed conflict between two or more countries or groups
matters of war and peace
Synonyms
conflict
The National Security Council has met to discuss ways of preventing a military conflict.
drive
attack
fighting
More than 100 people were injured in the fighting.
fight
They used to be allies in the fight against the old Communist regime.
operation
battle
The battle lasted several years.
movement
push
struggle
I broke my wrist in the struggle.
clash
combat
Over 16 million men died in combat during the war.
offensive
hostilities
hostility
warfare
There are fears that the dispute could develop into open warfare.
expedition
crusade
strife
The boardroom strife at the company is far from over.
bloodshed
jihad
enmity
armed conflict
Opposites
accord
,
peace
,
treaty
,
co-operation
,
ceasefire
,
harmony
,
compliance
,
truce
,
armistice
,
co-existence
,
peace-time
2 (noun)
Definition
any conflict or contest
the war against organized crime
Synonyms
campaign
The General's campaign against the militia has so far failed.
drive
the drive towards democracy
attack
a campaign of air attacks on strategic targets
operation
a full-scale military operation
movement
He contributed to the Movement for the Ordination of Women.
push (informal)
All that was needed was one final push, and the enemy would be vanquished once and for all.
mission
offensive
The armed forces have launched an offensive to recapture lost ground.
crusade
a crusade against racism
contest
contention
cyberwar
(verb)
Definition
to conduct a war
The two tribes warred to gain new territory.
Synonyms
fight
The Sioux fought other tribes for territorial rights.
battle
Many people battled with police.
clash
A group of 400 demonstrators clashed with police.
wage war
campaign
struggle
The shopkeeper struggled with the intruder for some time before the intruder ran off.
combat
contend
The two main groups contended for power.
go to war
do battle
make war
take up arms
bear arms
cross swords
conduct a war
engage in hostilities
carry on hostilities
contest
Opposites
co-operate
,
make peace
,
co-exist
,
call a ceasefire
related words
related adjectivesbelligerentmartial
Quotations
War is nothing but the continuation of politics by other means [Karl von Clausewitz – On War]Politics is war without bloodshed while war is politics with bloodshed [Mao Zedong – On Protracted War]There was never a good war, or a bad peace [Benjamin Franklin]War makes rattling good history; but Peace is poor reading [Thomas Hardy – The Dynasts]He that makes a good war makes a good peace [George Herbert – Outlandish Proverbs]O I know they make war because they want peace; they hate so that they may live; and they destroy the present to make the world safe for the future. When have they not done and said they did it for that? [Elizabeth Smart – Necessary Secrets]For what can war but endless war still breed? [John Milton – Sonnet, On the Lord General Fairfax]Above all, this book is not concerned with Poetry, The subject of it is War, and the Pity of War. The Poetry is in the Pity [Wilfred Owen – Poems (preface)]As long as war is regarded as wicked, it will always have its fascination. When it is looked upon as vulgar, it will cease to be popular [Oscar Wilde – The Critic as Artist]In war, whichever side may call itself the victor, there are no winners, but all are losers [Neville Chamberlain]War is too serious a matter to entrust to military men [Georges Clemenceau]War is like love, it always finds a way [Bertolt Brecht – Mother Courage and Her Children]It is easier to make war than to make peace [Georges Clemenceau]During the time men live without a common power to keep them all in awe, they are in that condition which is called war; and such a war as is of every man against every man [Thomas Hobbes – Leviathan]History is littered with the wars which everybody knew would never happen [Enoch Powell – speech to the Conservative Party Conference]Let slip the dogs of war [William Shakespeare – Julius Caesar]War is the trade of kings [John Dryden – King Arthur]The quickest way of ending a war is to lose it [George Orwell – Shooting an Elephant]Sometime they'll give a war and nobody will come [Carl Sandburg – `The People, Yes']Since war begins in the minds of men, it is in the minds of men that the defences of peace must be constructed [Constitution of UNESCO]The next war will be fought with atom bombs and the one after that with spears [Harold Urey]War will cease when men refuse to fight [pacifist slogan]After each war there is a little less democracy to save [Brooks Atkinson – Once Around the Sun]What if someone gave a war and Nobody came? Life would ring the bells of Ecstasy and Forever be Itself again [Allen Ginsberg – The Fall of America]In the fall the war was always there but we did not go to it any more [Ernest Hemingway – Men Without Women]
proverb
All is fair in love and war
Additional synonyms
in the sense of attack
Definition
the act of attacking
a campaign of air attacks on strategic targets
Synonyms
assault,
charge,
campaign,
strike,
rush,
raid,
invasion,
offensive,
aggression,
blitz,
onset,
onslaught,
foray,
incursion,
inroad
in the sense of battle
Definition
a fight between large armed forces
The battle lasted several years.
Synonyms
fight,
war,
attack,
action,
struggle,
conflict,
clash,
set-to (informal),
encounter,
combat,
scrap (informal),
biffo (Australian, slang),
engagement,
warfare,
fray,
duel,
skirmish,
head-to-head,
tussle,
scuffle,
fracas,
scrimmage,
sparring match,
bagarre,
melee or mêlée,
boilover (Australian)
in the sense of battle
Definition
to fight in or as if in military combat
Many people battled with police.
Synonyms
wrestle,
war,
fight,
argue,
struggle,
dispute,
contest,
combat,
contend,
feud,
grapple,
agitate,
clamour,
scuffle,
lock horns
Synonyms of 'war'
war
Explore 'war' in the dictionary
Additional synonyms
in the sense of clash
Definition
to come into conflict
A group of 400 demonstrators clashed with police.
Synonyms
conflict,
grapple,
wrangle,
lock horns,
cross swords,
war,
feud,
quarrel
in the sense of combat
Definition
a fight or struggle
Over 16 million men died in combat during the war.
Synonyms
fight,
war,
action,
battle,
conflict,
engagement,
warfare,
skirmish
in the sense of contend
Definition
to compete or fight
The two main groups contended for power.
Synonyms
compete,
fight,
struggle,
clash,
contest,
strive,
emulate,
vie,
grapple,
jostle,
skirmish,
dispute
in the sense of crusade
Definition
a vigorous campaign in favour of a cause
a crusade against racism
Synonyms
campaign,
drive,
movement,
cause,
push (informal)
in the sense of drive
Definition
a special effort made by a group of people for a particular purpose
the drive towards democracy
Synonyms
campaign,
push (informal),
crusade,
action,
effort,
appeal,
advance,
surge
in the sense of fighting
More than 100 people were injured in the fighting.
Synonyms
battle,
war,
conflict,
combat,
hostilities,
warfare,
bloodshed
in the sense of movement
Definition
the organized action and campaigning of such a group
He contributed to the Movement for the Ordination of Women.
Synonyms
campaign,
drive,
push (informal),
crusade
in the sense of offensive
Definition
an attack or hostile action
The armed forces have launched an offensive to recapture lost ground.
Synonyms
attack,
charge,
campaign,
strike,
push (informal),
rush,
assault,
raid,
drive,
invasion,
onslaught,
foray,
incursion
in the sense of operation
Definition
a military or naval manoeuvre
a full-scale military operation
Synonyms
manoeuvre,
campaign,
movement,
exercise,
assault,
deployment,
oper8n
in the sense of push
Definition
a special effort to achieve something
All that was needed was one final push, and the enemy would be vanquished once and for all.
Synonyms
effort,
charge,
attack,
campaign,
advance,
assault,
raid,
offensive,
sally,
thrust,
blitz,
onset
Additional synonyms
in the sense of strife
Definition
angry or violent struggle
The boardroom strife at the company is far from over.
Synonyms
conflict,
battle,
struggle,
row,
clash,
clashes,
contest,
controversy,
combat,
warfare,
rivalry,
contention,
quarrel,
friction,
squabbling,
wrangling,
bickering,
animosity,
discord,
dissension
in the sense of struggle
Definition
a fight or battle
I broke my wrist in the struggle.
Synonyms
fight,
battle,
conflict,
clash,
contest,
encounter,
brush,
combat,
hostilities,
strife,
skirmish,
tussle,
biffo (Australian, slang)
in the sense of struggle
Definition
to fight with someone, often for possession of something
The shopkeeper struggled with the intruder for some time before the intruder ran off.
Synonyms
fight,
battle,
wrestle,
grapple,
compete,
contend,
scuffle,
lock horns
in the sense of warfare
Definition
a violent or intense conflict of any kind
There are fears that the dispute could develop into open warfare.