counterattack

UK: /ˈkaʊntərətæk/

US: /ˈkaʊntərəˌtæk/

US: (n. koun′tər ə tak′; v. koun′tər ə tak′, koun′tər ə tak′)

WordReference Random House Learner's Dictionary of American English © 2025

coun•ter•at•tack /ˈkaʊntərəˌtæk/   n. 

1. an attack made to reply to or oppose another attack:
   [countable] The army launched a counterattack across the river.
   [uncountable] the concept of counterattack in modern warfare.

v. [no object]

2. to make a counterattack:
   to counterattack at dawn.

WordReference Random House Unabridged Dictionary of American English © 2025

coun•ter•at•tack  (n. koun′tər ə tak′;v. koun′tər ə tak′, koun′tər ə tak′), n. 

1. an attack made as an offset or reply to another attack.
2. Military an attack by a ground combat unit to drive back an enemy attack.

v.t. 

3. to make a counterattack against.

v.i. 

4. to deliver a counterattack.

• counter- + attack 1915–20

Collins Concise English Dictionary © HarperCollins Publishers::

counterattack / ˈkaʊntərəˌtæk/ noun

1. an attack in response to an attack

verb

1. to make a counterattack (against)