Definitions for contend
kənˈtɛndcon·tend

Princeton's WordNet(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. contend, postulate(verb)

   maintain or assert

   "He contended that Communism had no future"

2. argue, contend, debate, fence(verb)

   have an argument about something

3. contest, contend, repugn(verb)

   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, manage(verb)

   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, contend(verb)

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

6. contend, fight, struggle(verb)

   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"

Wiktionary(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

1. contend(Verb)

   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.

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

2. contend(Verb)

   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.

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

3. contend(Verb)

   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.

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

Webster Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

1. Contend(verb)

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

2. Contend(verb)

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

3. Contend(verb)

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

4. Contend(verb)

   to struggle for; to contest

Chambers 20th Century Dictionary(5.00 / 1 vote)Rate this definition:

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 Contribution(0.00 / 0 votes)Rate this definition:

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  

How to pronounce contend?

1. 

   Alex

   US English

   

   Daniel

   British

   

   Karen

   Australian

   

   Veena

   Indian

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. Jeffrey Barrett:

   We’re going to have to really contend with these new variants in the virus in the next phase of the pandemic, something happened that basically allowed a new constellation of mutations to arise.

2. 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.

3. Andrew Chesnut:

   The Mexican Church already was very concerned by expanding Protestantism and now it must contend with a folk saint venerated mostly by Mexicans who still consider themselves Catholic.

4. Gertrude Stein:

   I simply contend that the middle-class ideal which demands that people be affectionate, respectable, honest and content, that they avoid excitements and cultivate serenity is the ideal that appeals to me, it is in short the ideal of affectionate family life, of honorable business methods.

5. Ralph Waldo Emerson, …Journal, 1860:

   The teaching of politics is that the Government, which was set for protection and comfort of all good citizens, becomes the principal obstruction and nuisance with which we have to contend… The cheat and bully and malefactor we meet everywhere is the Government.

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