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.
There is rarely any tranquility or relief in Mio’s stories, and the levels from her book ideas are often about fighting back against the system. Kyle Wilson, Rolling Stone, 4 Mar. 2025 The phrase, used in sports like hockey and boxing, has different interpretations, but generally means to protect yourself or fight back. Bailey Richards, People.com, 2 Mar. 2025 The battle for copyright in the AI age is far from over, but one thing is clear: musicians, writers, and artists are ready to fight back, and they will not be silenced. Follow me on Twitter or LinkedIn. Virginie Berger, Forbes, 28 Feb. 2025 The Huskies fell behind by 14 points early in the second half and fought back to get up 12 with two minutes to go, only to let that lead slip away and end up in a one-possession game in the final seconds. Joe Arruda, Hartford Courant, 28 Feb. 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 9 Mar. 2025.

More from Merriam-Webster on fight back

Last Updated: - Updated example sentences
Love words? Need even more definitions?

Subscribe to America's largest dictionary and get thousands more definitions and advanced search—ad free!