contend

UK /kənˈtend/ US /kənˈtend/ Syllables: con-tend

Pronunciation

Verb B1 Intermediate Formal

To argue that something is true, or to struggle to deal with a difficulty.

Contend has two main uses. In the first, to contend is to say firmly that something is true, as in "She contends that the data is wrong." You use it in debates, essays and court cases when someone puts forward a claim and is ready to defend it. In the second use, to contend is to struggle or compete: a runner contends for a medal, and a farmer contends with bad weather. Both uses share the idea of pushing hard against an opposing force or opinion.

"Lawyers for the defense contend that the evidence was collected illegally."

Meanings

To state firmly that something is true.
To struggle to deal with a difficulty.
To compete with others for something.

Example sentences

"The lawyer contends that her client is innocent."

Level B2, Meaning 1
"Small shops must contend with online sellers."

Level B2, Meaning 2
"Six teams are contending for the cup."

Level B1, Meaning 3
"Many people contend that school starts too early."

Level B1, Meaning 1

Synonyms and antonyms

Synonyms

argue assert

Look-alikes and common mistakes

content : Content has the same letters but is stressed differently, and it means satisfied or the things inside something.
contest : Contest means to compete or to dispute. Contend can also mean this, but it is also a way to state a claim.

Word family and forms

Forms: contends, contended, contending

contention contender contentious

Word partners

Words and phrases that often go with "contend".

contend that
contend with
contend for the title
contend for a place
strongly contend
contending forces

Idioms and phrases

contend with: To have to deal with something difficult.; "Farmers must contend with unpredictable weather."

Origin

Contend came into English in the 1400s from Old French contendre, which took it from Latin contendere, to compete, strive or draw tight. The Latin verb is built from con-, meaning with or together, and tendere, to stretch, so contending is stretching yourself against someone or something.

Checked against: Wiktionary, the free dictionary, Dictionary.com.

Usage notes

"Contend with" means to deal with a problem, as in "contend with heavy traffic", a different sense from "contend that".

How to remember it

Contend contains tend, as in stretch. To contend, you stretch toward a goal or an argument with all your effort.

Test yourself

Which word fits the gap? "The lawyer _____ that her client is innocent."

Answer: contend

In your own words, what does "contend" mean?