combat
gb/kˈɑmbæt/ us/kˈɑmbæt/
B1
English
~ 4600
harc, harcol, küzd, fellép, visszaszorít
NOUN
B1
1
harc
B1
The soldiers were trained for close combat.
A katonákat közelharcra képezték ki.
He was awarded a medal for bravery in combat.
A harcban tanúsított bátorságáért kitüntetést kapott.
The region has seen little direct combat in recent months.
Her father was killed in combat during the war.
Learner examples
The soldiers are in combat.
A katonák harcban állnak.
He fought in combat for many years.
Sok éven át harcokban vett részt.
The army is ready for combat.
They lost many men in combat.
Common mistake:
Learners sometimes confuse 'combat' (a countable or uncountable noun) with 'combats' as a plural; in modern English, 'combat' is usually uncountable unless referring to types or instances.
Meaning
A battle between opposing forces
Collocations
close combat
|hand-to-hand combat
|combat zone
|combat mission
|combat experience
Synonyms
battle (Generally refers to a specific fight in a war; can be larger in scale than 'combat'.)
Antonyms
peace (The absence of fighting or war.)
Themes
military
|conflict
|violence
|politics
|law
|core_vocabulary
Definition
A fight between groups of soldiers or armed people.
A violent fight or battle, especially between military forces in a war.
VERB
B2
2
Usage pattern:
to combat [someone/something]
The army is prepared to combat the enemy.
A hadsereg felkészült arra, hogy harcoljon az ellenség ellen.
We must work together to combat climate change.
Össze kell fognunk a klímaváltozás elleni küzdelemben.
The government is taking steps to combat corruption.
She has spent her career combating injustice.
Learner examples
We combat the enemy.
Az ellenség ellen harcolunk.
They want to combat crime.
Küzdeni akarnak a bűnözés ellen.
Doctors combat the disease.
The police combat drug use.
Common mistake:
Learners may overuse 'combat' for casual contexts where 'fight' or 'deal with' would be more natural; 'combat' often suggests a formal or serious struggle.
Meaning
To fight against something or someone
Collocations
combat crime
|combat terrorism
|combat disease
|combat inflation
Synonyms
fight (A more general term for physical or non-physical struggle; 'combat' often implies organized or serious effort.)
Antonyms
surrender (To stop fighting and give in to an opponent.)
Themes
military
|conflict
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To fight against someone or something.
To engage in battle or struggle against an enemy or opposing force.
VERB
B1
3
Usage pattern:
to combat [problem/threat]
The campaign aims to combat childhood obesity.
A kampány célja a gyermekkori elhízás visszaszorítása.
They introduced new laws to combat pollution.
Új törvényeket vezettek be a környezetszennyezés visszaszorítására.
Education is key to combating ignorance.
Learner examples
We must combat pollution.
Küzdenünk kell a szennyezés ellen.
They work to combat poverty.
Azon dolgoznak, hogy csökkentsék a szegénységet.
The school tries to combat bullying.
Common mistake:
Learners might confuse this sense with physical fighting; here it can be about non-physical problems like disease or crime.
Meaning
To act against something harmful
Collocations
combat poverty
|combat discrimination
|combat global warming
Synonyms
address (Focuses on dealing with a problem, not necessarily fighting it forcefully.)
Antonyms
promote (To actively encourage or help something grow, opposite of trying to stop it.)
Themes
social issues
|health
|science
|core_vocabulary
Definition
To try to stop something bad from happening or getting worse.
To try to stop, reduce, or prevent something harmful or undesirable from happening or increasing.
Grammar
Dictionary form
combat
IPA
GB/kˈɑmbæt/
US/kˈɑmbæt/
Syllables & stress
com - bat (2 syllables)
Stress on 1st syllable (com)
Word forms
Noun
- Base: combat
- Plural: combat, combats
Verb
- Base: combat
- 3rd Person Singular: combats
- Present Participle: combating, combatting
- Past: combated, combatted
Word family
Forms
combats
noun
combating
verb
combatting
verb
combated
verb
combatted
verb
Related words
combatant
noun B2
combative
adjective
Negative and opposite forms
noncombatant
noun
Advanced or less common
combatively
adverb
combativeness
noun
Expressions
combat boots
1/kˈɑmbæt bˈuts/
fixed phrase
Heavy boots worn by soldiers
Strong, heavy shoes that cover the ankle, worn by soldiers.
Examples
- She bought a pair of black combat boots for hiking.
- Combat boots are standard issue for infantry soldiers.
combat readiness
1/kˈɑmbæt ɹˈɛdinəs/
fixed phrase
technical
Prepared for battle or action
Being ready to fight or take action in a battle.
Examples
- The troops maintained a high level of combat readiness.
- Regular training is essential for combat readiness.
combat zone
1/kˈɑmbæt zˈoʊn/
fixed phrase
Area where fighting happens
A place where there is active fighting, especially in a war.
Examples
- Civilians were evacuated from the combat zone.
- Journalists entered the combat zone to report on the conflict.
in combat
1/ˈɪn kˈɑmbæt/
fixed phrase
Engaged in fighting or battle
Fighting in a battle or war.
Examples
- Many soldiers were killed in combat during the last war.
- He was wounded while in combat.