adjective
Uncommon
battling
Battling (adjective) means Fighting, or actively engaged in a struggle. Example: “The battling teams traded blows until the final bell.”
adjective
1
Fighting, or actively engaged in a struggle.
"The battling teams traded blows until the final bell."
"A battling underdog fought back from two goals down."
noun
1
A struggle or fight — either physical combat or a hard, ongoing effort to cope with something.
"Years of battling with illness had left him exhausted."
"The company is battling to stay afloat after the layoffs."
How to use battling
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishFighting or struggling hard against something — an opponent, an illness, financial trouble, and so on.
Common pairings
battling illness
battling the odds
battling for survival
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Word forms
- Plural
- battlings
- Comparative
- more battling
- Superlative
- most battling
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
The _____ teams traded blows until the final bell.
Etymology
Comes from battle (“to nourish, feed”).
Synonyms
View more →Related words
Rhymes for battling
See all rhymes for battling →Frequently asked questions
What does “battling” mean?
The word “battling” means fighting, or actively engaged in a struggle. In plain terms, fighting or struggling hard against something — an opponent, an illness, financial trouble, and so on.
How do you use “battling” in a sentence?
Here is “battling” used in a sentence: “The battling teams traded blows until the final bell.”
What part of speech is “battling”?
Depending on how it is used, “battling” can be an adjective and a noun.
Is “battling” a common word?
“Battling” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “battling” have?
“Battling” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: fighting, or actively engaged in a struggle.
What is the difference between "battling" and "fighting"?
"Battling" and "fighting" are close synonyms, but "battling" often implies a sustained, ongoing struggle, such as battling an illness or battling adversity, rather than a single confrontation. "Fighting" can describe both brief physical fights and longer struggles, making it slightly broader in use.
Can "battling" describe something other than physical combat?
Yes. "Battling" commonly describes a hard, ongoing effort to cope with a difficulty, such as "battling depression" or "battling rising costs," with no physical fighting involved. This figurative use is extremely common in news headlines and everyday speech.
Is "battling" used as an adjective before a noun?
Yes, "battling" can function as an adjective meaning actively engaged in a struggle, as in "the battling underdog" or "battling spirit." In this position it describes ongoing determination or resistance rather than a specific single fight.
