contend — English Dictionary

contend
Pronunciations (2)
  • /kənˈtɛnd/
  • kənˈtɛnd

Verb

  1. To be in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    The Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle.

    For never two such kingdoms did contend without much fall of blood.

    More examples (1)

    2011, Osaiah "Ike" Wilson III, James J.F. Forrest, Handbook of Defence Politics the armies of Syria and Lebanon lack the capability to contend with the Israeli army, as demonstrated during the course of the First Lebanon War.

  2. To struggle or exert oneself to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    17th century, John Dryden, Epistle III to the Lady Castlemain You sit above, and see vain men below / Contend for what you only can bestow.

    God has entrusted something to the church, and it is the church's job to contend for it, even unto death

  3. To be in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    these simple ideas are far from those innate principles which some contend for

    many of those things he so fiercely contended about , were either falle or trivial

  4. To believe (something is reasonable) and argue (for it); to advocate.

    Usage
    • Intransitive
    Examples

    In this paper the author contends that no useful results can be obtained if this method is used.

    Some panellists contended that the costs of research and care justified the establishment of a permanent national commission

    More examples (2)

    His critics contend the eight years [term limit] expired Tuesday, the day before the anniversary of Prayuth officially becoming prime minister in the military government installed after the coup.

    A group of Colorado voters contends that Section 3 of the Fourteenth Amendment to the Constitution prohibits former President Donald J. Trump, who seeks the Presidential nomination of the Republican Party in this year’s election, from becoming President again.

  5. To try to cope with a difficulty or problem.

    Examples
    More examples (1)

    However, the challenges for the railway world are much greater than for automotive as we generally have more occupants, higher speeds, greater masses, higher energies, and an absence of seatbelts or airbags to contend with.

Verb

  1. maintain or assert

    Synonyms
    Broader terms
    Examples

    He contended that Communism had no future

  2. have an argument about something

    Broader terms
  3. to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation

    Broader terms
    Examples

    They contested the outcome of the race

  4. succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available

    Broader terms
    Examples

    We got by on just a gallon of gas

    They made do on half a loaf of bread every day

  5. compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others

    Synonyms
    Broader terms
  6. be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

    Broader terms
    Examples

    the tribesmen fought each other

    Siblings are always fighting

    More examples (1)

    Militant groups are contending for control of the country

Word forms
contendscontendingcontendedcontended

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