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 See More
Recent Examples on the Web
Noun
Follow PEOPLE's complete coverage of the war here, including stories from citizens on the ground and ways to help. Kelli Bender, Peoplemag, 12 Sep. 2022 Russia’s war on Ukraine, for one, wasn’t part of the forecast, resulting in a $25 million headwind to earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization for the year after the company decided to discontinue operations in Russia. Jennifer Williams-alvarez, WSJ, 12 Sep. 2022 As throughout the war, such military claims were hard to verify independently. Elena Becatoros, BostonGlobe.com, 12 Sep. 2022 The same two friends dug them up Sunday, with Ukrainian war crimes investigators looking on. Steve Hendrix, Serhii Korolchuk And Robyn Dixon, Anchorage Daily News, 12 Sep. 2022 Burlingame was more than a war hero to his family, who affectionately called him Chic.CBS News, 12 Sep. 2022 The United States entered the war at the end of 1941. Timothy Noah, The New Republic, 12 Sep. 2022 The show also makes a number of storytelling and production choices that have helped DS9 seem more relevant in recent years than ever before, including tackling issues about race, religious fundamentalism, and war on a regular basis. Chris Snellgrove, EW.com, 12 Sep. 2022 Dave Herman has been in charge of 23 war and military related events in town over the years and has enjoyed the growth of it since having to cancel in 2020 because of the pandemic. Jeff Vorva, Chicago Tribune, 11 Sep. 2022
Verb
Spears’ father, Jamie Spears, sought the court’s permission to take Spears’ deposition as the two sides continue to war over attorneys’ fees and other costs connected to her 13-year conservatorship. Elizabeth Wagmeister, Variety, 27 July 2022 The dour news arrived as Democrats and Republicans in Congress continue to war over the size and scope of the next coronavirus relief package. Tony Romm, BostonGlobe.com, 5 Aug. 2020 The dour news arrived as Democrats and Republicans in Congress continue to war over the size and scope of the next coronavirus relief package.Washington Post, 5 Aug. 2020 Selah takes on a protégée, Paloma (Celeste O’Connor), a new student and amateur photographer who has yet to be claimed by one of the school’s warring factions. Teo Bugbee, New York Times, 16 Apr. 2020 Egypt, Russia, Turkey, and the United Arab Emirates are all involved, supplying variously troops, fighters, and military equipment to the warring factions. Lorne Cook, BostonGlobe.com, 31 Mar. 2020 As the virus outbreak — and Israel’s response to it — swelled frighteningly in recent days, the warring factions have softened their rhetoric and embraced, tentatively, the possibility of coming together in an emergency coalition. Steve Hendrix, Washington Post, 13 Mar. 2020 The timing of the pandemic couldn’t be worse for Mexico, especially in this downtrodden city, which has long been marred by drug violence carried out by warring criminal organizations.Dallas News, 9 Apr. 2020 Nothing in your letter suggests a dire backdrop, but many young people are cut off by their parents for warring over hot topics such as religion or sexuality. Philip Galanes, New York Times, 18 Jan. 2018 See More
Word History
Etymology
Noun
Middle English werre, from Anglo-French werre, guerre, of Germanic origin; akin to Old High German werra strife; akin to Old High German werran to confuse
Adverb or adjective
Middle English werre, from Old Norse verri, adjective, verr, adverb; akin to Old English wiersa worse — more at worse
First Known Use
Noun
12th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1a(1)