defend
Americanverb (used with object)
-
to ward off attack from; guard against assault or injury (usually followed by from oragainst ).
The sentry defended the gate against sudden attack.
- Antonyms:
- attack
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to maintain by argument, evidence, etc.; uphold.
She defended her claim successfully.
- Synonyms:
- vindicate
-
to contest (a legal charge, claim, etc.).
-
Law. to serve as attorney for (a defendant).
He has defended some of the most notorious criminals.
-
to support (an argument, theory, etc.) in the face of criticism; prove the validity of (a dissertation, thesis, or the like) by answering arguments and questions put by a committee of specialists.
-
Sports. to attempt to retain (a championship title, position, etc.), as in a competition against a challenger.
A fortuitous trade has landed him on the team defending the World Series championship.
verb (used without object)
-
Law. to enter or make a defense.
-
Sports. to prevent the opposing team from scoring.
She’s a freshman who already scores and defends like a professional.
verb
-
to protect (a person, place, etc) from harm or danger; ward off an attack on
-
(tr) to support in the face of criticism, esp by argument or evidence
-
to represent (a defendant) in court in a civil or criminal action
-
sport to guard or protect (oneself, one's goal, etc) against attack
-
(tr) to protect (a championship or title) against a challenge
Related Words
Defend, guard, preserve, protect all mean to keep safe. To defend is to strive to keep safe by resisting attack: to defend one's country. To guard is to watch over in order to keep safe: to guard a camp. To preserve is to keep safe in the midst of danger, either in a single instance or continuously: to preserve a spirit of conciliation. To protect is to keep safe by interposing a shield or barrier: to protect books by means of heavy paper covers.
Other Word Forms
- defendable adjective
- defender noun
- undefendable adjective
- undefendably adverb
- undefended adjective
- well-defended adjective
Etymology
Origin of defend
First recorded in 1200–50; Middle English defenden, from Old French défendre, from Latin dēfendere “to ward off, repel,” from dē- de- + -fendere “to strike” ( bane ( def. ) )
Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
Even if Iran were able to launch strikes at such a range, the British armed forces would be able to defend the UK, he said.
From BBC
From the stage came passionate calls to "defend democracy".
From BBC
But after telling his corner he had hurt his hip, Murphy struggled to defend takedowns like he had before and Evloev gained the upper hand in the closing stages.
From BBC
Ukraine is also offering the US its drone expertise and technology - which could be useful in fighting and defending against Iran.
From BBC
Licence's work disputes a claim that Harold forced his men to march nearly 200 miles from Stamford Bridge in Yorkshire to Hastings to defend the country.
From BBC
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
