fight back
In real, traceable use. Part of the curated seed collection; community review is coming.
Sense 1
Meaning · English
To defend oneself by fighting.
Where it’s used:
Used
American English
Examples
The bully hadn't been expecting his victim to fight back, and now the bully has quadriplegia.
Usage example from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30)
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 2
Meaning · English
To defend oneself by fighting. — To counterattack (counterstrike); to resist an attack or respond after one.
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Sense 3
Meaning · English
to repress; to struggle to repress.
Sources & notes
Adapted from English Wiktionary (CC BY-SA 4.0, retrieved 2026-07-30 via kaikki.org).
Common questions
What does “fight back” mean?
To defend oneself by fighting.
Is “fight back” formal or informal?
No register label has been reviewed yet — treat it as neutral and check the usage notes above.