HOSTILITIES

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 Dictionary entry overview: What does hostilities mean? 

• HOSTILITIES (noun)
  The noun HOSTILITIES has 1 sense:

1. fighting; acts of overt warfare

  Familiarity information: HOSTILITIES used as a noun is very rare.

 Dictionary entry details 

• HOSTILITIES (noun)

Sense 1

Meaning:

Fighting; acts of overt warfare

Classified under:

Nouns denoting acts or actions

Synonyms:

belligerency; hostilities

Context example:

the outbreak of hostilities

Hypernyms ("hostilities" is a kind of...):

armed combat; combat (an engagement fought between two military forces)

Derivation:

hostile (not belonging to your own country's forces or those of an ally)

 Context examples 

“You have come to see Lord Nelson. He bid me say that he would be with you in an instant. You have doubtless heard that hostilities are about to reopen?”

(Rodney Stone, by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle)

Mr. Murdstone seemed afraid of a renewal of hostilities, and interposing began: Miss Trotwood!

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)

It was plain, therefore, that the attack would be developed from the north and that on the other three sides we were only to be annoyed by a show of hostilities.

(Treasure Island, by Robert Louis Stevenson)

Between him and all domestic animals there must be no hostilities.

(White Fang, by Jack London)

I thought it my duty to hint at the discomfort my aunt would sustain, from living in a continual state of guerilla warfare with Mrs. Crupp; but she disposed of that objection summarily by declaring that, on the first demonstration of hostilities, she was prepared to astonish Mrs. Crupp for the whole remainder of her natural life.

(David Copperfield, by Charles Dickens)