1 B1 idiomatic informal
To compete fiercely against opponents in a contest, game, or rivalry until a winner is decided.
"The two tennis players battled it out for nearly four hours before a champion was crowned."
battle it out
B1 informal intransitive
To compete or struggle intensely against an opponent until one side wins.
In plain English
To keep fighting or competing against each other until someone wins.
What does "battle it out" mean?
3 meanings, ordered from most common to least. Color-coded by CEFR level.
2 B1 idiomatic informal
To argue or negotiate intensely with another party until a resolution is reached.
"The two companies battled it out in court for three years before settling."
3 B2 idiomatic neutral
To struggle through a difficult situation or ordeal by persisting to the end.
"She battled it out through months of gruelling treatment and eventually recovered."
Literal vs figurative
Words literally mean
To fight out a battle completely — the 'it' refers to the contest itself.
Actually means
To keep fighting or competing against each other until someone wins.
Usage tip
The phrase always uses the pronoun 'it' as a fixed element — you cannot say 'battle them out.' Common in sports journalism, politics, and general competitive contexts. Conveys a sense of prolonged or intense competition.
Words that pair with "battle it out"
Natural word combinations native speakers use most often.
rivals competitors finals championship court negotiating table
How to conjugate "battle it out"
The five tense forms you'll use most often.
Base
battle it out
I/you/we/they
3rd person
battles it out
he/she/it
Past simple
battled it out
yesterday
Past participle
battled it out
have + pp
-ing form
battling it out
continuous
Hear "battle it out" in the wild
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Keep exploring
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