fight back

phrasal verb

fought back; fighting back; fights back
1
: to attack or try to defeat someone who is attacking or trying to defeat oneself
We can't just let them make these accusations against us. We need to fight back!
2
: to make a new effort against an opponent
They fell behind early in the game, but they were able to fight back and tie the score in the second half.

Examples of fight back in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to show current usage. Read More Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.
Guns & Moses presents a scenario where American Jews arm themselves and fight back. Seth Abramovitch, HollywoodReporter, 20 June 2025 Despite the huge losses, the attempt to confiscate the $225 million shows the US is making some progress in fighting back. Michael Kan, PC Magazine, 19 June 2025 These acts of resistance echo the original spirit of Juneteenth—not just surviving, but fighting back. Eric K. Ward, Time, 19 June 2025 The Stars fought back from down 3-1 to Vancouver only to lose Game 7 on home ice. Sean McIndoe, New York Times, 19 June 2025 See All Example Sentences for fight back

Cite this Entry

“Fight back.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fight%20back. Accessed 24 Jun. 2025.

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