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combat meaning and examples

2025-08-25

Meaning

Combat can be used as both a noun and a verb:

  • Noun: Fighting, especially during war or conflict; a struggle or battle against something harmful.
  • Verb: To fight against, oppose, or take action to stop something.

Grammar and Usage

  • Verb (transitive/intransitive): combat sth → to fight against or take action to stop. Example: The government is combating climate change.

  • Noun: Refers to a physical fight or a metaphorical struggle. Example: The soldiers were ready for combat.

  • Common structures:

    • combat + noun (combat disease, combat crime)
    • in combat (engaged in fighting)

Common Phrases

  • close combat → fighting at very short range.
  • hand-to-hand combat → physical fighting without weapons.
  • combat readiness → being prepared to fight.
  • combat boots → sturdy boots originally designed for soldiers.

Collocations

  • verb + combat: help combat, designed to combat, aim to combat
  • combat + noun: combat situation, combat troops, combat operations, combat sports
  • noun + combat: drug combat, disease combat, crime combat

Examples

  1. The army engaged in combat during the war.
  2. Doctors are working hard to combat infectious diseases.
  3. He wore heavy combat boots.
  4. The two leaders joined forces to combat terrorism.
  5. Soldiers train for close combat.
  6. The new policy combats corruption effectively.
  7. Many people are in combat with poverty every day.
  8. The video game simulates real combat situations.
  • Verb: fight, battle, struggle, oppose, resist
  • Noun: battle, warfare, fight, struggle, conflict