Definitions for contend
kənˈtɛndcon·tend

Princeton's WordNetRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. contend, postulateverb

   maintain or assert

   "He contended that Communism had no future"

2. argue, contend, debate, fenceverb

   have an argument about something

3. contest, contend, repugnverb

   to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation

   "They contested the outcome of the race"

4. cope, get by, make out, make do, contend, grapple, deal, manageverb

   come to terms with

   "We got by on just a gallon of gas"; "They made do on half a loaf of bread every day"

5. compete, vie, contendverb

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

6. contend, fight, struggleverb

   be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight

   "the tribesmen fought each other"; "Siblings are always fighting"; "Militant groups are contending for control of the country"

WiktionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. contendverb

   to strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.

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

2. contendverb

   to struggle or exert one's self to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.

   You sit above, and see vain men below contend for what you only can bestow.

3. contendverb

   to strive in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.

   The question which our author would contend for - many things he fiercely contended about were trivial.

4. Etymology: From contendere, from com- + tendere; see tend, and compare attend, extend, intend, subtend.

Samuel Johnson's DictionaryRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. To Contendverb

   To dispute any thing; to contest.

   Their airy limbs in sports they exercise,
   And on the green contend the wrestler’s prize. John Dryden, Æneid.

   A time of war at length will come,
   When Carthage shall contend the world with Rome. Dryd.

   Thus low we lie,
   Shut from this day and that contended sky. Dryden.

2. To CONTENDverb

   Etymology: contendo, Latin.

   1. To strive; to struggle in opposition.

   Hector’s forehead spit forth blood
   At Grecian swords contending. William Shakespeare, Coriolanus.

   When he reads
   Thy personal venture in the rebels flight,
   His wonders and his praises do contend
   Which should be thine or his. William Shakespeare, Macbeth.

   Death and nature do contend about them,
   Whether they live or die. William Shakespeare, Macbeth.

   Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle; for I will not give thee of their land. Deutr. ii. 9.

   2. To vie; to act in emulation.3. It has for before the ground or cause of contention.

   You sit above, and see vain men below
   Contend for what you only can bestow. Dryden.

   The question which our author would contend for, if he did not forget it, is what persons have a right to be obeyed. John Locke.

   4. Sometimes about.

   He will find that many things he fiercely contended about were trivial. Decay of Piety.

   5. It has with before the opponent.

   This battle fares like to the morning’s war,
   When dying clouds contend with growing light. William Shakespeare, H. VI.

   If we consider him as our maker, we cannot contend with him. William Temple.

   6. Sometimes against.

   In ambitious strength I did
   Contend against thy valour. William Shakespeare, Coriolanus.

WikipediaRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. contend

   Nolo contendere is a legal term that comes from the Latin phrase for "I do not wish to contend". It is also referred to as a plea of no contest or no defense. In criminal trials in certain United States jurisdictions, it is a plea where the defendant neither admits nor disputes a charge, serving as an alternative to a pleading of guilty or not guilty. A no-contest plea, while not technically a guilty plea, typically has the same immediate effect as a guilty plea and is often offered as a part of a plea bargain. In many jurisdictions, a plea of nolo contendere is not a typical right and carries various restrictions on its use.

ChatGPTRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. contend

   To contend is to struggle or compete with difficulties or opposition. It can also mean to assert or maintain a stance or argument in a dispute or debate.

Webster DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Contendverb

   to strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight

2. Contendverb

   to struggle or exert one's self to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend

3. Contendverb

   to strive in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue

4. Contendverb

   to struggle for; to contest

Chambers 20th Century DictionaryRate this definition:5.0 / 1 vote

1. Contend

   kon-tend′, v.i. to strive: to struggle in emulation or in opposition: to dispute or debate (with against, for, with, about): to urge one's course.—ns. Contend′ent, Contend′er, one who contends.—p.adj. Contend′ing, striving.—n. Conten′tion, a violent straining after any object: strife: debate.—adj. Conten′tious, quarrelsome.—adv. Conten′tiously.—n. Conten′tiousness. [L. contendĕre, -tentum—con, with, tendĕre, to stretch.]

Editors ContributionRate this definition:0.0 / 0 votes

1. contend

   To have the capacity to manage.

   They received the news and our family said we would support them as they had a lot to contend with.

   
   

   Submitted by MaryC on August 2, 2016  

Matched Categories

1. • Oppose

How to pronounce contend?

1. Alex

   US English

   David

   US English

   Mark

   US English

   Daniel

   British

   Libby

   British

   Mia

   British

   Karen

   Australian

   Hayley

   Australian

   Natasha

   Australian

   Veena

   Indian

   Priya

   Indian

   Neerja

   Indian

   Zira

   US English

   Oliver

   British

   Wendy

   British

   Fred

   US English

   Tessa

   South African

How to say contend in sign language?

Numerology

1. Chaldean Numerology

   The numerical value of contend in Chaldean Numerology is: 6

2. Pythagorean Numerology

   The numerical value of contend in Pythagorean Numerology is: 3

Examples of contend in a Sentence

1. Friedrich von Schiller:

   With stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain.

2. Abby Johnson:

   Pro-choice advocates contend that abortion is an essential and time-sensitive medical service.While people everywhere are trying to survive the COVID-19 pandemic, politicians like Gov. Abbott continue this perverse obsession with banning abortion, those who are caring for their families, forced to work essential jobs, and doing what they can to stay healthy need access to health care right now. Instead, these politicians are forcing patients to travel hundreds of miles putting themselves and their families at risk. Susan B. Anthony List President Marjorie Dannenfelser praised the stayorder. We are pleased that the Court recognized the urgency and necessity of Governor Abbotts order. All elective surgeries and procedures, including abortions, must cease during this national crisis, Dannenfelser said in a statement provided to Fox News. At a time when millions of Americans are making heroic sacrifices to protect the vulnerable, and legitimate health care workers risk their own lives to care for COVID-19 patients with crucial protective equipment in short supply, the abortion industry led by Planned Parenthood demands special treatment anddiverts scarce resources.

3. Mark Twain:

   Now what I contend is that my body is my own, at least I have always so regarded it. If I do harm through my experimenting with it, it is I who suffers, not the state.

4. Michelle Obama:

   But what they didn't have to contend with was this president.

5. Jeffrey Barrett:

   The best way to prevent the further evolution of these mutants is to vaccinate as many people as possible with the vaccines that we have currently available to us. we’re going to have to really contend with these new variants in the virus in the next phase of the pandemic.

Popularity rank by frequency of use

References

1. ^ Princeton's WordNet
   http://wordnetweb.princeton.edu/perl/webwn?s=contend
2. ^ Wiktionary
   https://en.wiktionary.org/wiki/Contend
3. ^ Samuel Johnson's Dictionary
   https://johnsonsdictionaryonline.com/views/search.php?term=contend
4. ^ Wikipedia
   https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contend
5. ^ ChatGPT
   https://chat.openai.com
6. ^ Webster Dictionary
   https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/contend
7. ^ Chambers 20th Century Dictionary
   https://www.gutenberg.org/files/37683/37683-h/37683-h.htm#:~:text=contend