What does combating mean?
Combating is the present participle of the verb 'combat', used to describe the ongoing act of fighting against or working to counter something harmful. While its roots lie in physical warfare — the word descends from Latin via Old French, originally denoting battle between armed opponents — in contemporary English 'combating' far more often refers to figurative struggle: governments combat terrorism and corruption, scientists combat disease, and organizations combat poverty or misinformation. This institutional flavor gives the word a serious, purposeful register, making it a staple of policy documents, journalism, and public-health communication. It pairs naturally with large-scale social problems, as in 'combating climate change'. The related adjective 'combative' describes a quarrelsome disposition, a distinct meaning worth keeping separate. For writers seeking a verb that conveys sustained, determined opposition to a problem, 'combating' remains one of the most authoritative choices available.
verb (present participle of 'combat')Combating is the present participle of the verb 'combat', meaning to fight against or struggle to counter something harmful or undesirable.
- To take action to reduce, prevent, or eliminate something harmful such as disease, crime, or misinformation.
- To physically fight or engage in armed struggle against an enemy.
"The government launched a new task force dedicated to combating cybercrime."
"Public health agencies have been combating the spread of malaria for decades."
"Soldiers were deployed to the region for combating insurgent forces."
The word 'combat' traces back through Old French to Late Latin, where it literally meant to fight 'with' someone — com- ('together') plus battuere ('to beat').
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Etymology of combating
The word derives from Old French 'combattre', which itself comes from Late Latin 'combattere', formed from the prefix com- ('together, with') and the verb battuere ('to beat'), the same root that gave English 'battle', 'batter', and 'battery'. The term entered Middle English around the fourteenth century with its original sense of physical armed struggle. Over subsequent centuries its use broadened, so that today it predominantly describes systematic efforts against abstract problems rather than hand-to-hand fighting.
Related word forms
How combating is actually used
In modern usage, 'combating' most often appears in formal, institutional contexts — policy reports, journalism, and official statements — typically followed by an abstract problem (terrorism, climate change) rather than literal physical fighting. It carries a serious, purposeful tone and is common in both British and American English.
Easily confused with combating
'Combative' is an adjective describing a person eager or inclined to fight or argue, while 'combating' is a verb form describing the act of fighting against something.