Hostilities

C1 16+

Pronunciation: /hɑˈstɪlətiz/

Definitions of hostilities

noun active resistance or opposition; conflict or war

Example Sentences

A1 The two countries are in a state of hostilities.

A2 The hostilities between the rival gangs have escalated.

B1 The hostilities between the two factions have been ongoing for years.

B2 The peace talks aim to end the hostilities in the region.

C1 The hostilities came to an end after the signing of the peace treaty.

C2 The hostilities between the two superpowers threatened to escalate into a full-blown war.

adjective of or relating to acts of war or conflict

Example Sentences

A1 The two countries were in a state of hostilities for many years.

A2 The hostilities between the rival gangs escalated quickly.

B1 The hostilities between the two political parties were evident during the debate.

B2 The ceasefire agreement was fragile, with hostilities ready to resume at any moment.

C1 The hostilities in the region had been ongoing for decades, with no end in sight.

C2 The hostilities between the two nations had reached a dangerous level, threatening to erupt into full-scale war.

Examples of hostilities in a Sentence

formal The peace talks were held in an attempt to de-escalate hostilities between the two countries.

informal The feud between the neighbors has only fueled more hostilities.

slang Things got heated and soon there were hostilities all around.

figurative The tension in the room was so thick, it felt like hostilities could break out at any moment.

Grammatical Forms of hostilities

past tense

hostilities

plural

hostilities

comparative

more hostilities

superlative

most hostilities

present tense

hostilities

future tense

will hostilities

perfect tense

have hostilities

continuous tense

is hostilities

singular

hostility

positive degree

hostilities

infinitive

to hostilities

gerund

hostilities

participle

hostilities

Origin and Evolution of hostilities

First Known Use: 1250 year
Language of Origin: Latin
Story behind the word: The word 'hostilities' originated from the Latin word 'hostilitas', which is derived from 'hostilis' meaning 'enemy'.
Evolution of the word: Over time, 'hostilities' has come to represent acts of aggression or conflict between opposing parties, often in the context of war or disputes.