Have you ever got stuck on the correct past tense of the word fight in the English language? This article will explain the conjugations of the word fight and also define fight and give you all the information you need about the word.

What Is the Definition of the Word Fight?

According to the Collins English Dictionary, the word fight is defined as:

Intransitive verb

to engage in battle or in single combat; attempt to defend oneself against or to subdue, defeat, or destroy an adversary.
to contend in any manner; strive vigorously for or against something:
- He fought bravely against despair.

Transitive verb

to contend with in battle or combat; war against:
- England fought Germany.
to contend with or against in any manner:
- to fight despair; to fight the passage of a bill.
to carry on (a battle, duel, etc.).
to maintain (a cause, quarrel, etc.) by fighting or contending.
to make (one’s way) by fighting or striving.
to cause or set (a boxer, animal, etc.) to fight.
to manage or maneuver (troops, ships, guns, planes, etc.) in battle.

Noun

a battle or combat.
any contest or struggle:
- a fight for recovery from an illness.
an angry argument or disagreement:
- Whenever we discuss politics, we end up in a fight.
Boxing. a bout or contest.
a game or diversion in which the participants hit or pelt each other with something harmless:
- a pillow fight; a water fight.
ability, will, or inclination to fight:
- There was no fight left in him.

What Is the Past Tense of Fight?

The past tense of fight is fought. This would be used in a sentence like:

I fought with my brothers and sisters growing up.

I fought hard to earn my way to the top of the company.

They fought many battles together in war.

How Do You Conjugate Fight?

Here are some conjugations of the word fight including the past tense verb forms:

Infinitive: To fight

Present participle/gerund: Fighting

Past participle: Fought

Present Tense	Simple Past Tense	Future Tense
I fight	fought	Am fighting
You fight	fought	Are fighting
He/she/it fights	fought	Is fighting
We fight	fought	Are fighting
They fight	fought	Are fighting

The History and Origin of the Word

The word fought has been used since at least 900 A.D. It comes from Middle English (fighten), then before that Old English (feohtan).

Synonyms of Fight From a Thesaurus

Combat
Conflict
Contest

Antonyms include accord, agreement, calm, peace.

Examples of the Word in Context

The U.S. military is finally starting to train Iraqi troops to fight ISIS in restive Anbar province.
- PENTAGON INSIDER ON NEW PLAN TO FIGHT ISIS: ‘OF COURSE IT’S NOT ENOUGH’|NANCY A. YOUSSEF|JANUARY 6, 2015|DAILY BEAST
She says she will have to fight in “other ways” to get her client freed.
- AMAL CLOONEY VS. EGYPT’S COURTS|CHRISTOPHER DICKEY|JANUARY 4, 2015|DAILY BEAST
While Kurdish forces have advanced on some fronts in Iraq, the fight here in Syria seems far from over yet.
- THE BROTHERS WHO AMBUSHED ISIS|MOHAMMED A. SALIH|DECEMBER 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As the fight raged on, Ahmed and the three women fighters who were part of the mission, sent out calls for help.
- THE BROTHERS WHO AMBUSHED ISIS|MOHAMMED A. SALIH|DECEMBER 27, 2014|DAILY BEAST
If there is actually a war on Christmas, famed astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson seems ready to lead the fight.
- NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON TROLLS CHRISTIANS ON CHRISTMAS|BEN JACOBS|DECEMBER 25, 2014|DAILY BEAST
As the afternoon advances, for variation, there is a fight at the barriers.
- LIFE ON A MEDIAEVAL BARONY|WILLIAM STEARNS DAVIS
His own son, whom he had never known, was to fight him at the polls!
- CARNAC’S FOLLY, COMPLETE|GILBERT PARKER
At this instant the door flew open, and the fight was transferred to the platform, the light and the open air.
- THE DEERSLAYER|JAMES FENIMORE COOPER
There’s plenty left to fight the fire but nothin’ to fight it with.
- ANCESTORS|GERTRUDE ATHERTON
The German artillery used the same tactics, with the result that the French reenforcements were kept out of the fight.
- THE STORY OF THE GREAT WAR, VOLUME III (OF VIII)|VARIOUS
Researchers hope the proteins will trigger the production of antibodies and immune cells that can fight off the coronavirus.
- — Peter Loftus, WSJ, “Covid-19 Vaccines: What’s Coming and When?,” 1 Sep. 2020
German Chancellor Angela Merkel is trying to convince her country to take on debt to fight the coronavirus.
- — Emma Hinchliffe, Fortune, “Institutional investors must take action on diversity in venture capital,” 31 Aug. 2020
All these additional tools to fight the coronavirus could prove critical should there be another spike in patients hospitalized for the disease in the fall, a development that experts both anticipate and dread.
- — Shari Rudavsky, The Indianapolis Star, “Once precious resources in coronavirus fight, ventilators no longer doctors’ first choice,” 26 Aug. 2020
Thailand’s economy has struggled to compete with its neighbors, even before the damage inflicted by the strict measures to fight the coronavirus.
- — Jerry Harmer, Star Tribune, “Thai activists answer summonses over army headquarters rally,” 25 Aug. 2020
The Department of Health and Human Services funded another $414 million in purchases using DOD contracting partners to expand domestic production and reduce America’s reliance on overseas medical supplies that are used to fight the coronavirus.
- — Abraham Mahshie, Washington Examiner, “Defense Department has invested $162 million to expand coronavirus testing capacity, but shortfalls remain,” 25 Aug. 2020
There’s been an explosion of products on offer to fight coronavirus, including germicidal lamps.
- — Maggie Fox, CNN, “Ultraviolet UVC sanitizers can be dangerous and have limited use against coronavirus, warns FDA,” 20 Aug. 2020
Wapping Community Church, 1790 Ellington Road, is promoting wearing masks to fight coronavirus on its clothesline.
- — courant.com, “Community News For The South Windsor Edition,” 20 Aug. 2020
By including the spikes on the adenovirus, the vaccine should train the body to recognize and fight the novel coronavirus spike as well.
- — Amanda Morris, The Arizona Republic, “Oxford AstraZeneca COVID-19 vaccine trials open in Arizona,” 19 Aug. 2020

Summary

Next time you need to write the irregular verb fight, you will be well prepared for everything you need to know what it is and how to use it efficiently within English grammar. American English learners should feel confident with the different conjugations, the history of the word, and the definition.

Sources:

Kevin Miller is a growth marketer with an extensive background in Search Engine Optimization, paid acquisition and email marketing. He is also an online editor and writer based out of Los Angeles, CA. He studied at Georgetown University, worked at Google and became infatuated with English Grammar and for years has been diving into the language, demystifying the do's and don'ts for all who share the same passion! He can be found online here.

The Past Tense of Fight: Here’s What It Is and How to Use It

Your writing, at its best

What Is the Definition of the Word Fight?

What Is the Past Tense of Fight?

How Do You Conjugate Fight?

The History and Origin of the Word

Synonyms of Fight From a Thesaurus

Examples of the Word in Context

Summary

Sources:

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