war Definition
- 1a state of armed conflict between nations, states, or societies
- 2a sustained campaign against something undesirable
- 3a state of competition or hostility between different people or groups
Using war: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "war" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The country declared war on its neighbor.
Example
The war lasted for five years.
Example
The government launched a war on drugs.
Example
There is a constant war between the two rival companies.
war Synonyms and Antonyms
Idioms Using war
Example
The president declared war on terrorism after the 9/11 attacks.
Example
The country went to war to defend its sovereignty.
war chest
a reserve of funds used for fighting a war or election campaign
Example
The candidate had a large war chest to finance his campaign.
Phrases with war
civil war
a war between citizens of the same country
Example
The American Civil War was fought from 1861 to 1865.
a prolonged war or period of conflict during which each side seeks to gradually wear out the other by a series of small-scale actions
Example
The Vietnam War was a war of attrition.
a conflict between social groups and the struggle for dominance of their values, beliefs, and practices
Example
The culture war between liberals and conservatives has been ongoing for decades.
Origins of war
from Old English 'wyrre', meaning 'war'
Summary: war in Brief
The term 'war' [wɔːr] refers to a state of armed conflict between nations, states, or societies. It can also describe a sustained campaign against something undesirable or a state of competition or hostility between different people or groups. Examples include 'The country declared war on its neighbor,' and 'The government launched a war on drugs.' Idioms like 'declare war' and 'go to war' denote formal declarations of war, while 'war chest' refers to a reserve of funds for fighting a war or election campaign.