fight off
phrasal verb
fought off; fighting off; fights off
: to defend oneself against (someone or something) by fighting or struggling : to avoid being harmed or overcome by (someone or something) by fighting or struggling
They fought off the attack/attackers.
I'm trying to fight off a cold.
Examples of fight off in a Sentence
Recent Examples on the Web
That kind of production would be a welcome addition to a Chicago lineup that will be looking to fight off St. Louis and Milwaukee for the remainder of the season.
—
Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Saliva, the watery fluid in your mouth, helps fight off bacteria and keep your gums safe.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 29 May 2025
Now her immediate goal is to fight off charges that could put her in prison for several years.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
The 18-year-old Barnard College student was stabbed multiple times while attempting to fight off her attackers — who were three middle school boys.
—Corin Cesaric, People.com, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for fight off
Examples are automatically compiled from online sources to
show current usage.
Read More
Opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors.
Send us feedback.
Andrew Wright, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 June 2025
Saliva, the watery fluid in your mouth, helps fight off bacteria and keep your gums safe.
—Mark Gurarie, Health, 29 May 2025
Now her immediate goal is to fight off charges that could put her in prison for several years.
—Andrew J. Campa, Los Angeles Times, 23 May 2025
The 18-year-old Barnard College student was stabbed multiple times while attempting to fight off her attackers — who were three middle school boys.
—Corin Cesaric, People.com, 18 May 2025
See All Example Sentences for fight off
Cite this Entry
“Fight off.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fight%20off. Accessed 9 Jun. 2025.
Copy CitationLove words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share