contend

American  

[kuhn-tend] / kənˈtɛnd /

verb (used without object)

• contends,
  present (3rd person singular)
• contended,
  past participle,  past
• contending
  present participle

1. 

   to struggle in opposition.

   to contend with the enemy for control of the port.

   Synonyms:

   fight, battle, grapple, wrestle

2. to strive in rivalry; compete; vie.

   to contend for first prize.

3. to strive in debate; dispute earnestly.

   to contend against falsehood.

   Synonyms:

   wrangle, argue

   Antonyms:

   agree

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verb (used with object)

• contends,
  present (3rd person singular)
• contended,
  past participle,  past
• contending
  present participle

1. to assert or maintain earnestly.

   He contended that taxes were too high.

   Synonyms:

   claim, hold

contend British  

/ kənˈtɛnd /

verb

1. to struggle in rivalry, battle, etc; vie

2. to argue earnestly; debate

3. (tr; may take a clause as object) to assert or maintain

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Synonym Usage

See compete.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• contender
  noun
• precontend
  verb (used without object)
• recontend
  verb (used without object)
• noncontending
  adjective
• uncontended
  adjective
• uncontending
  adjective
• contendingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• contending
  present
• contended
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• contend
  simple
• contends
  simple
• have contended
  perfect
• has contended
  perfect
• am contending
  progressive
• are contending
  progressive
• is contending
  progressive
• have been contending
  perfect progressive
• has been contending
  perfect progressive

Past

• contended
  simple
• had contended
  perfect
• was contending
  progressive
• were contending
  progressive
• had been contending
  perfect progressive

Future

• will contend
  simple
• will have contended
  perfect
• will be contending
  progressive
• will have been contending
  perfect progressive

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Etymology

Origin of contend

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English contenden, from Anglo-French contendre, from Latin contendere “to compete, strive, draw tight,” equivalent to con- prefix meaning “with, together” + tendere “to stretch”; see con-, tend ¹

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Explanation

To defend a belief or keep affirming that it's true is to contend. People used to contend that the earth was flat, but eventually, when no one dropped off the edge no matter how far they traveled, the "round" theory won. One of the meanings of contend is from the French "to strive with," and it is a literal fighting, as in "to contend with fists." Most contemporary uses of the verb contend illustrate competitions of proof or defense, where a person will contend that something is true, or better, or wrong. It is still a striving but more of a verbal kind, where what you contend is what you hope to convince others is correct.

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

contend contends contended contending

Computer-science students, he said, no longer need to contend with long waiting lists to get into popular classes like they did several years ago.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 19, 2026

Once the leader of and undisputed standard-bearer for the TV-to-digital shift, the streaming pioneer has had to publicly contend with various moments of weakness throughout this year.

From Slate ● Oct. 16, 2026

Beyond staff shortages, teachers and pupils must also contend with crumbling school buildings, which a 2023 Senate report estimated would require billions of euros to renovate and adapt to a changing climate.

From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026

He had been expected to contend for three medals in the team sprint, individual sprint and keirin.

From BBC ● Oct. 12, 2026

She had Mrs. Caruthers and her linens to contend with, and it would be her first time doing it all by herself.

From "Ophie's Ghosts" by Justina Ireland

But instead of preaching to the choir, he contends with society’s gray areas, never offering a solution — or even his own opinion — on the difficult topics at hand.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 7, 2026

It also contends that its messaging and image-sharing apps should not have to face additional requirements under the OSA, such as tackling paid-for fraud ads.

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

And Alexander Hamilton advocated not for “a permanent pool of U.S. government bonds,” as Mr. Wigglesworth contends, but for “public credit immortal.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 2, 2026

Retail investors, too, are poised to increase their buying of stocks and options after pulling in their horns during September, he contends.

From MarketWatch ● Oct. 2, 2026

But even if, as Cannadine contends, “Speech was the very fibre of his being,” that’s not to say that it proceeded in any natural way from that being.

From "Words Like Loaded Pistols" by Sam Leith

He would later settle a civil lawsuit brought by his former employer, which contended he played a role in Kao’s campaign finance and loan fraud schemes, for $425,000.

From Salon ● Oct. 20, 2026

Over the summer, the restaurant industry also contended with a cyclospora outbreak that made more consumers squeamish about ordering things like salads.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 23, 2026

Defense attorneys argued she did so in the midst of severe postpartum psychosis, while prosecutors contended she acted with clear intent.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 4, 2026

Ms. also took flak from some of Steinem’s sister feminists, who contended that it cast women as victims.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 3, 2026

Some people contended that the reason Made-moiselle Reisz always chose apartments up under the roof was to discourage the approach of beggars, peddlars and callers.

From "The Awakening" by Kate Chopin

Wolfinger is also contending with sky-high diesel costs, with some equipment going through 400-gallon tanks a day.

From BBC ● Oct. 11, 2026

France is contending with a wave of thefts that have targeted its museums in recent years.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 8, 2026

Job seekers are now contending with increasingly personalized traps, said James Lee, president of the Identity Resource Theft Center.

From MarketWatch ● Sep. 5, 2026

Lupoi was the missing piece alongside Rivera and Chancellor Rich Lyons, forming a trio of Berkeley graduates who understand the importance of elevating the university’s profile with a contending football program.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 4, 2026

You won't just be contending with what's already in there.

From "Beasts of Prey" by Ayana Gray

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Related Words

• argue
• confront
• cope
• dispute
• go after
• grapple
• meet
• oppose
• push for
• resist
• vie

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