fight off

phrasal verb

fought off; fighting off; fights off

: to defend oneself against (someone or something) by fighting or struggling : to avoid being harmed or overcome by (someone or something) by fighting or struggling

They fought off the attack/attackers.

I'm trying to fight off a cold.

Examples of fight off 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.

Each stage plays an important role, from integrating your memories and processing your emotions to fighting off potentially harmful cells. —

Ashley Abramson, Allure, 18 Feb. 2025 These lead to different combinations—with H1N1 and H3N2 presently the most common subtypes in humans—and allow influenza A to mutate more often, which is why our bodies can struggle to recognize it and fight off an infection. —

Thomas G. Moukawsher, Newsweek, 11 Feb. 2025 The game started with a fight off the opening faceoff. —

Aaron Portzline, The Athletic, 5 Feb. 2025 January 30, 2025 One of the easiest ways to help fight off an iron deficiency is through eating iron-rich food. —

Audrey Noble, Vogue, 30 Jan. 2025 See all Example Sentences for fight off