often attributive
1
a(1)
: a state of usually open and declared armed hostile conflict between states or nations
(2)
: a period of such armed conflict
(3)
b
: the art or science of warfare
c(1)
obsolete
: weapons and equipment for war
(2)
archaic
: soldiers armed and equipped for war
2
a
: a state of hostility, conflict, or antagonism
b
: a struggle or competition between opposing forces or for a particular end
a class war
a war against disease
c
warred; warring
Synonyms
Examples of war in a Sentence
Noun
They fought a war over the disputed territory.
A war broke out when the colonists demanded their independence.
We need to resolve our conflicts without resorting to war.
People behave differently during a time of war.
The taking of American hostages was seen as an act of war by the United States.
the budget wars in Washington
Verb (1)
continually warring against their neighbors in an effort to expand their territory
Recent Examples on the Web
Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
The October attack sparked the subsequent Israel-Hamas war and the relentless Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip that Palestinian health authorities say has killed more than 46,000 people and destroyed the majority of the blockaded territory.
—Natasha Turak,christina Wilkie, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2025
Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 15 Jan. 2025
The planet Coruscant, eventually the city-planet that’s the capital of the Republic (and kind of the galaxy at large), was once a volcano world where two warring factions, the Taungs and the Battalions of Zhell, did battle.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for war 
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Noun
Publishing footage of prisoners of war can fall foul of the Geneva Conventions, or rules for how people can be treated during war.
—Michael Gfoeller and David H. Rundell, Newsweek, 15 Jan. 2025
The October attack sparked the subsequent Israel-Hamas war and the relentless Israeli military offensive in the Gaza Strip that Palestinian health authorities say has killed more than 46,000 people and destroyed the majority of the blockaded territory.
—Natasha Turak,christina Wilkie, CNBC, 15 Jan. 2025
Verb
Officials have expressed optimism before, only for negotiations to stall while the warring sides blamed each other.
—Democrat-Gazette Staff From Wire Reports, arkansasonline.com, 15 Jan. 2025
The planet Coruscant, eventually the city-planet that’s the capital of the Republic (and kind of the galaxy at large), was once a volcano world where two warring factions, the Taungs and the Battalions of Zhell, did battle.
—Christian Blauvelt, IndieWire, 9 Jan. 2025
See all Example Sentences for war
Dictionary Entries Near war
Cite this Entry
“War.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/war. Accessed 20 Jan. 2025.
Copy CitationKids Definition
war
1 of 2 noun1
a
: a state or period of armed hostile conflict between states, nations, or groups
b
: the science of warfare
2
a
: a state of hostility, antagonism, or conflict
b
: a struggle between opposing forces or for a particular goal
a war on disease
war
2 of 2 verb
warred; warring
1
: to engage in warfare
warring nations
2
: to be in conflict
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