What does "melee" mean?
A battle fought at close range, (especially) one not involving ranged weapons; hand-to-hand combat; brawling.
Melee
/ˈmeɪˌleɪ/ adj, noun, verb, slang
adj, noun, verb, slang ·Common ·High school level
Meaning at a glance
- Primary sense: A battle fought at close range, (especially) one not involving ranged weapons; hand-to-hand combat; brawling.
- Grammar: melee is listed as adj, noun, verb, slang.
- Nearest alternatives: ado, affrays, altercations, battle.
- Useful contrasts: calm, calmness, distance fighting.
- Usage evidence: If your enemy gets close to you, tap the melee button.
How to use "melee"
- Start with the primary definition, then check the part of speech before placing the word in a sentence.
- Compare nearby synonyms to make sure "melee" carries the exact meaning, tone, and strength you need.
- Use the example sentence as a context check. If your sentence uses the word differently, confirm that the grammar still fits.
Meaning check
- Does the word fit the sentence's grammar?
- Does it match the intended tone rather than only the dictionary definition?
- Would a simpler synonym be clearer for the reader?
- Is there enough surrounding context to prevent ambiguity?
Source and review context
This entry combines structured lexical data with WordToolSet review checks. Definitions, examples, synonyms, and usage notes may come from different source tables, so the page is designed to show evidence from more than one angle before you rely on "melee" in a final draft.
If a word has several senses, prefer the sense that matches your sentence's grammar and surrounding context. A correct definition can still be the wrong choice when the sentence needs a different register, emphasis, or level of specificity.
Before you rely on this definition
Read the first definition as a starting point, then check the example, synonyms, and part of speech before treating "melee" as the right word for your sentence.
If your draft is formal, technical, persuasive, or sensitive, compare "melee" with a nearby alternative so the final choice matches both meaning and reader expectation.
Compare nearby meanings
- Use synonyms when you need a softer, stronger, simpler, or more specific word.
- Use antonyms to check the boundary of the meaning and avoid accidental contrast.
- Use the example sentence to confirm the word behaves naturally in context.
- Keep the original wording when a replacement adds complexity without improving precision.
Definition decision workflow
1. Identify the role
Check whether "melee" is acting as adj, noun, verb, slang in your sentence. A definition is only useful when the grammar matches the way the word is being used.
2. Test the nearest option
Compare it with "ado" and other nearby choices to see whether the sentence needs a softer, stronger, or more familiar word.
3. Confirm with context
Use the example sentence below as an evidence check, then read your own sentence out loud to catch tone or rhythm problems.
Review note: Definition pages are checked for source coverage, sentence evidence, synonym support, and editorial insight before they are treated as approval-ready pages. If the evidence is too thin, the page remains available to users but is kept out of the approval-facing indexed inventory.
Final meaning check
Before publishing a sentence with "melee", ask whether the word helps the reader understand the idea faster. A precise word should reduce confusion, not simply make the sentence look more polished.
When the definition, synonym evidence, and example context point in the same direction, the word is usually a safer choice. When they conflict, revise the sentence or choose a clearer alternative.
Definitions
Noun
- 1 A battle fought at close range, (especially) one not involving ranged weapons; hand-to-hand combat; brawling. countable, especially, uncountable
"Honestly, a lot of what this episode did right had more to do with the scenes that surrounded the enormous melee than those hyper-edited clashes of swords."
- 2 a noisy riotous fight wordnet
- 3 A loud, confused or tumultuous fight, argument or scrap. countable, uncountable
"The ball did not appear to cross the line, a view supported by television replays as Blues captain John Terry also joined the melee, but referee Atkinson awarded the goal - to the obvious anger of Spurs and their management team."
- 4 Any confused, disorganised, disordered or chaotic situation. countable, uncountable
"Within this melee of intersections between English and Cantonese, the students, being themselves bilingually fluent, were able to navigate with perfect ease in communicative contexts where the provenance of a certain term or expression matters little."
- 5 Lively contention or debate, skirmish. countable, uncountable
Show 3 more definitions
- 6 A cavalry exercise in which two groups of riders try to cut paper plumes off the helmets of their opponents, the contest continuing until no member of one group retains his plume. countable, historical, uncountable
- 7 Small cut and polished gemstones sold in lots. countable, uncountable
- 8 The video game Super Smash Bros. Melee. capitalized, countable, uncountable, usually
Verb
- 1 To physically hit in close quarters, as opposed to shooting, blowing up, or other ranged means of damage. Often refers to the usage of a hand-to-hand weapon. slang
Adjective
- 1 Of a weapon: used in close-range combat, e.g. a sword. Compare with ranged. not-comparable
"A melee weapon is used to attack a target within 5 feet of you, whereas a ranged weapon is used to attack a target at a distance."
- 2 Of a character, using melee weapons. not-comparable
Synonyms
All synonymsExample
"If your enemy gets close to you, tap the melee button."
Common questions
What is a synonym for "melee"?
Common synonyms include: ado, affrays, altercations, battle, battle royal, bother.
How do you use "melee" in a sentence?
If your enemy gets close to you, tap the melee button.
How do you pronounce "melee"?
Pronounced /ˈmeɪˌleɪ/.
Etymology
Borrowed from French mêlée, from Old French meslee, feminine past participle of mesler (“to mix”), derived from Latin misceō (“mix”). Doublet of medley.