fighting

Pronunciation

• IPA^(key): /ˈfaɪtɪŋ/

• Audio (US)

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Verb

fighting

1. present participle of fight

Adjective

fighting

1. Engaged in war or other conflict.
2. Apt to provoke a fight.
   • 1925 April 11, "Books", in The New Yorker, page 26:

     It seems like a fighting insult, but he explains.

   • 1947, Hold That Lion! (film):

     Them's fighting words in my country!

   • 2003, Marjorie Kelly, The Divine Right of Capital: Dethroning the Corporate Aristocracy, Berrett-Koehler Publishers, →ISBN, page xi:

     Those are fighting words, of course, and the people who presently hold the high ground of economic power in society will not be amused.

Noun

fighting (plural fightings)

1. A fight or battle; an occasion on which people fight
   • 1613, “The Costlie Whore”, in A Collection Of Old English Plays, Vol. IV.‎:

     Then here the warres end, here[206] our fightings marde, Yet by your leave Ile stand upon my Guard.

   • 1840, Thomas Carlyle, On Heroes and Hero Worship and the Heroic in History‎:

     Seid had fallen in the War of Tabuc, the first of Mahomet's fightings with the Greeks.

   • 1860, John Yeardley, Memoir and Diary of John Yeardley, Minister of the Gospel‎:

     A good many soldiers, and some officers, were present; but the expression of our dissent from all wars and fightings had not displeased them, for they shook hands with US most kindly.

Etymology

Borrowed from Korean 화이팅 (hwaiting) or 파이팅 (paiting), from English fighting.

Interjection

fighting

1. (slang, neologism) Go for it!

Usage notes

This expression doesn't mean "fighting", but an encouragement; its usage may be frowned upon by people who regard this as a mistake.