cam·paign
(ˌ)kam-ˈpān 
1
: a connected series of military operations forming a distinct phase of a war
the bombing campaign
2
: a connected series of operations designed to bring about a particular result
election campaign
an advertising campaign
campaigned; campaigning; campaigns
: to go on, engage in, or conduct a campaign
campaigned for the presidency
: to enter (something, such as a horse or boat) in competition
was at that time campaigning a big steeplechase stable—
A. H. Higginson
A. H. Higginson
campaigner
noun
Synonyms
Examples of campaign in a Sentence
Noun
The group launched a campaign to protect the area from commercial development.
The university is organizing a campaign to attract a more diverse student population.
Verb
She campaigned to save the town library.
He campaigned hard to get more funding.
a time when women were campaigning for the right to vote
I campaigned for her when she ran for governor.
Recent Examples on the WebJeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
The campaign right now has the money to organize and run TV ads to try to persuade them.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 7 Apr. 2024
Trump's comments come before fundraiser The posts preceded, by a few hours, a Saturday night fundraiser in which the Trump campaign expected to pocket close to $50 million from a gathering in Palm Beach at the house of hedge fund guru John Paulson.
—USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
Her campaign submitted roughly 1,200 signatures in total, greater than the 800 or so that were required.
—Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 6 Apr. 2024
In addition to supporting his presidential campaign, contributions will also be directed into a political action committee handling most of Mr. Trump's legal bills.
—Aaron Navarro, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2024
Trump has vowed to pardon the rioters and made the attack a cornerstone of his campaign.
—Jonathan J. Cooper, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
In a campaign financial disclosure filing that month, Trump said his stake in the company was worth between $5 million and $25 million.
—Drew Harwell, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
Wallace worked on John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign after her time in the George W. Bush administration.
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Leif Wenar, WIRED, 2 Apr. 2024
India’s biggest and main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, has accused the government of hampering its ability to campaign by freezing its bank accounts over a tax dispute from 2018.
—Astha Rajvanshi, TIME, 2 Apr. 2024
At least five candidates have filed to run in the primaries and have begun campaigning in Mace's coastal district, as well as the neighboring district represented by Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2024
Presidential whispers began as soon as he was elected, but that bloom began to fade in 2022 when Youngkin campaigned around the country for 15 Republican gubernatorial candidates and only five of them won.
—Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
Wilders recently abandoned his bid to become prime minister, but still has the power to be a political kingmaker, and all three of the parties likely to have seats in the next government campaigned on anti-migrant platforms.
—Bysarah Jacob, Fortune Europe, 27 Mar. 2024
Today’s Paper | Subscribe Our Coverage of the 2024 Elections
Presidential Race
Barack Obama and Bill Clinton will campaign alongside President Biden at a fund-raiser in New York, in an effort to amplify a message of Biden’s legislative achievements.
—Katie Rogers, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2024
There were times earlier last year when Trump was similarly quiet on the trail, going weeks without a campaign event even as his 2024 Republican challengers were aggressively campaigning in the early states.
—Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 25 Mar. 2024
Milwaukee attorney Dan Adams, who registered a committee campaigning against the referendum, Milwaukeeans for Affordable Housing.
—Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2024
Noun
Councilmember Moreno set up a committee for her 2020 campaign but closed it the following year, records show.
—Jeff McDonald, San Diego Union-Tribune, 7 Apr. 2024
The campaign right now has the money to organize and run TV ads to try to persuade them.
—Domenico Montanaro, NPR, 7 Apr. 2024
Trump's comments come before fundraiser The posts preceded, by a few hours, a Saturday night fundraiser in which the Trump campaign expected to pocket close to $50 million from a gathering in Palm Beach at the house of hedge fund guru John Paulson.
—USA TODAY, 7 Apr. 2024
Her campaign submitted roughly 1,200 signatures in total, greater than the 800 or so that were required.
—Laura Gersony, The Arizona Republic, 6 Apr. 2024
In addition to supporting his presidential campaign, contributions will also be directed into a political action committee handling most of Mr. Trump's legal bills.
—Aaron Navarro, CBS News, 6 Apr. 2024
Trump has vowed to pardon the rioters and made the attack a cornerstone of his campaign.
—Jonathan J. Cooper, Fortune, 5 Apr. 2024
In a campaign financial disclosure filing that month, Trump said his stake in the company was worth between $5 million and $25 million.
—Drew Harwell, Washington Post, 26 Mar. 2024
Wallace worked on John McCain’s 2008 presidential campaign after her time in the George W. Bush administration.
—Stephen Battaglio, Los Angeles Times, 26 Mar. 2024
Verb
That same month Özer was born, a charismatic orator with a sympathetic gaze and push-broom mustache began campaigning through Istanbul’s streets in a paisley kipper tie.
—Leif Wenar, WIRED, 2 Apr. 2024
India’s biggest and main opposition party, the Indian National Congress, has accused the government of hampering its ability to campaign by freezing its bank accounts over a tax dispute from 2018.
—Astha Rajvanshi, TIME, 2 Apr. 2024
At least five candidates have filed to run in the primaries and have begun campaigning in Mace's coastal district, as well as the neighboring district represented by Democratic Rep. Jim Clyburn.
—Melissa Quinn, CBS News, 28 Mar. 2024
Presidential whispers began as soon as he was elected, but that bloom began to fade in 2022 when Youngkin campaigned around the country for 15 Republican gubernatorial candidates and only five of them won.
—Gregory S. Schneider, Washington Post, 28 Mar. 2024
Wilders recently abandoned his bid to become prime minister, but still has the power to be a political kingmaker, and all three of the parties likely to have seats in the next government campaigned on anti-migrant platforms.
—Bysarah Jacob, Fortune Europe, 27 Mar. 2024
Today’s Paper | Subscribe Our Coverage of the 2024 Elections
Presidential Race
Barack Obama and Bill Clinton will campaign alongside President Biden at a fund-raiser in New York, in an effort to amplify a message of Biden’s legislative achievements.
—Katie Rogers, New York Times, 26 Mar. 2024
There were times earlier last year when Trump was similarly quiet on the trail, going weeks without a campaign event even as his 2024 Republican challengers were aggressively campaigning in the early states.
—Lalee Ibssa, ABC News, 25 Mar. 2024
Milwaukee attorney Dan Adams, who registered a committee campaigning against the referendum, Milwaukeeans for Affordable Housing.
—Rory Linnane, Journal Sentinel, 27 Mar. 2024
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'campaign.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
Etymology
Noun and Verb
French campagne, probably from Italian campagna level country, campaign, from Late Latin campania level country, from Latin, the level country around Naples
First Known Use
Noun
circa 1656, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Verb
1692, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense
Phrases Containing campaign
Dictionary Entries Near campaign
Cite this Entry
“Campaign.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/campaign. Accessed 16 Apr. 2024.
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Kids Definition
campaign
noun
cam·paign
kam-ˈpān
1
: a series of military operations in a particular area or for a particular purpose as part of a war
2
: a connected series of activities designed to bring about a particular result
an election campaign
campaign
verb
campaigner
noun
More from Merriam-Webster on campaign
Nglish: Translation of campaign for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of campaign for Arabic Speakers
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