B2 adjective Neutral

brawl

/brɔːl/

A noisy, rough, and uncontrolled fight that usually involves several people in a public place. It can refer to the physical struggle itself or the act of participating in such a fight.

Examples

3 of 5
1

The police were called to break up a brawl that started outside the nightclub.

The police were called to break up a brawl that started outside the nightclub.

2

The witness provided a detailed account of the brawl that erupted following the political rally.

The witness provided a detailed account of the brawl that erupted following the political rally.

3

Things got crazy at the game and a massive brawl broke out in the stands.

Things got crazy at the game and a massive brawl broke out in the stands.

Word Family

Noun
brawl
Verb
brawl
Adjective
brawling
Related
brawler
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Memory Tip

Think of a 'brawl' as a 'ball' of people 'rawling' (fighting) on the ground. The 'b' is for big, and 'rawl' sounds like 'raw' energy.

Quick Quiz

The referee had to intervene when a ______ broke out between the players on the field.

Correct!

The correct answer is: brawl

Examples

1

The police were called to break up a brawl that started outside the nightclub.

everyday

The police were called to break up a brawl that started outside the nightclub.

2

The witness provided a detailed account of the brawl that erupted following the political rally.

formal

The witness provided a detailed account of the brawl that erupted following the political rally.

3

Things got crazy at the game and a massive brawl broke out in the stands.

informal

Things got crazy at the game and a massive brawl broke out in the stands.

4

Historical records indicate that the brawl between the two factions led to a significant shift in local governance.

academic

Historical records indicate that the brawl between the two factions led to a significant shift in local governance.

5

Although the negotiations were heated, the partners managed to resolve their differences without a public brawl.

business

Although the negotiations were heated, the partners managed to resolve their differences without a public brawl.

Word Family

Noun
brawl
Verb
brawl
Adjective
brawling
Related
brawler

Common Collocations

bar brawl bar brawl
drunken brawl drunken brawl
break up a brawl break up a brawl
spark a brawl spark a brawl
street brawl street brawl

Common Phrases

pick a brawl

to deliberately start a fight

drawn into a brawl

to become involved in a fight unintentionally

free-for-all brawl

a fight where anyone can join and there are no rules

Often Confused With

brawl vs sprawl

Sprawl refers to spreading out in an untidy way, while brawl refers to a physical fight.

brawl vs quarrel

A quarrel is usually a verbal argument, whereas a brawl is typically physical and violent.

📝

Usage Notes

The word is most commonly used to describe group fights in public settings rather than a private or one-on-one boxing match. It carries a connotation of chaos and lack of discipline.

⚠️

Common Mistakes

Learners sometimes use 'brawl' to describe a simple disagreement; remember that 'brawl' almost always implies physical contact and noise.

💡

Memory Tip

Think of a 'brawl' as a 'ball' of people 'rawling' (fighting) on the ground. The 'b' is for big, and 'rawl' sounds like 'raw' energy.

📖

Word Origin

Derived from the Middle English 'brallen', meaning to cry out or boast, possibly related to the Dutch 'brallen'.

Grammar Patterns

countable noun intransitive verb regular verb conjugation: brawl, brawled, brawling
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Cultural Context

Brawls are frequently mentioned in news reports regarding sports hooliganism or late-night incidents in entertainment districts.

Quick Quiz

The referee had to intervene when a ______ broke out between the players on the field.

Correct!

The correct answer is: brawl

Related Words

to

A1

Used to indicate the place, person, or thing that someone or something moves toward. It can also mark the recipient of an action or the limit of a range.

and

A1

A primary conjunction used to connect words, phrases, or clauses that are grammatically equal. It indicates addition, a sequence of events, or a relationship between two things.

a

A1

A word used before a singular noun that is not specific or is being mentioned for the first time. It is used only before words that begin with a consonant sound to indicate one of something.

that

A1

This word is a demonstrative pronoun used to indicate a specific person, object, or idea that is further away in space or time from the speaker. It is also used to refer back to something that has already been mentioned or to introduce a clause that identifies something.

I

A1

The pronoun 'I' is used by a speaker or writer to refer to themselves as the subject of a verb. It is the first-person singular subject pronoun in English and is always capitalized regardless of its position in a sentence.

for

A1

Used to show who is intended to have or use something, or to explain the purpose or reason for an action. It is also frequently used to indicate a specific duration of time.

not

A1

A function word used to express negation or denial. It is primarily used to make a sentence or phrase negative, often following an auxiliary verb or the verb 'to be'.

with

A1

A preposition used to indicate that people or things are together, in the same place, or performing an action together. It can also describe the instrument used to perform an action or a characteristic that someone or something has.

he

A1

A pronoun used to refer to a male person or animal that has already been mentioned or is easily identified. It functions as the subject of a sentence.

you

A1

Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.

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