Declare war on Meaning in English
expression
dɪˈkɫɛɹ/ /ˈwɔɹ/ /ˈɑn/, /ˈɔn
di-KLAIR WAR on
dɪklˈeə/ /wˈɔː/ /ˈɒn
di-KLAIR WAWR on
Definition
To officially announce or decide to start fighting a country, group, or problem.
Usage & Nuances
Used both literally (about nations) and figuratively (fighting issues, e.g., 'declare war on drugs'). Usually formal or journalistic. Collocates with 'country', 'problem', 'disease', 'crime'. Not used for ordinary arguments or disagreements.
Spanish: declarar la guerra aPortuguese (BR): declarar guerra aPortuguese (PT): declarar guerra aChinese (Simplified): 对……宣战Chinese (Traditional): 對……宣戰Hindi: पर युद्ध घोषित करनाArabic: يعلن الحرب علىBengali: যুদ্ধ ঘোষণা করাRussian: объявить войнуJapanese: 宣戦布告するVietnamese: tuyên chiếnKorean: 전쟁을 선포하다Turkish: savaş ilan etmekUrdu: جنگ کا اعلان کرناIndonesian: menyatakan perang
Example Sentences
The country declared war on its neighbor.
basic
They want to declare war on poverty.
basic
The government declared war on drugs last year.
basic
After the attack, leaders quickly declared war on the enemy nation.
natural
Many politicians promise to declare war on corruption, but few succeed.
natural
The principal said the school would declare war on bullying this year.
natural