Phrase guide

at war

prep_phrase · 2 senses · updated from the 2026-07-25 local source snapshot

Definitions and examples are grouped by meaning. Pronunciation, history, word forms, translations, descendants, synonyms, antonyms, derived terms, and related words appear whenever the source provides them.

Sound

Pronunciation

Each Play button uses your device's default local English voice, or a natural local fallback. The selected voice name appears after playback. This is synthesized speech, not a source recording.

No pronunciation record was provided for this word.

1

prep_phrase

Meaning 1

Fighting in a war.

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Qualifier: literal; typically with with or against; literal; typically with with or against

No example sentence was provided for this meaning.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: none provided

Antonyms: none provided

2

prep_phrase

Meaning 2

(typically with with or against) Vigorously opposed (to); in strong conflict (with).

Definition source: English Wiktionary via Wiktextract

Usage: broadly, figuratively

Examples

  • The decision to separate a child from their parents is at war with our values.

Meaning relationships

Synonyms: at odds

Antonyms: none provided

History

Etymology

No etymology was provided for this word.

Across languages

Translations

8 source translations are retained for this English entry.

  • Chinese Mandarin: 處於戰爭狀態 /处于战争状态 (chǔyú zhànzhēng zhuàngtài) — fighting in a war
  • Chinese Mandarin: 交戰 /交战 (jiāozhàn) — fighting in a war
  • Dutch: in oorlog — fighting in a war
  • Dutch: in conflict — fighting in a war
  • Finnish: sodassa — fighting in a war
  • Chinese Mandarin: 互相衝突 /互相冲突 (hùxiāng chōngtū) — vigorously opposed to
  • Dutch: in conflict — vigorously opposed to
  • Finnish: sodassa — vigorously opposed to