defend
verb (used with object)
to ward off attack from; guard against assault or injury (usually followed by from oragainst ).
defended
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past participleof defend.past participle
A verb form used in perfect and passive verb constructions and that can also function as a modifier.
-
past tense formof defend.past tense
Used to describe completed actions or previous habitual actions.
defendverb (used with object)to ward off attack from; guard against assault or injury (usually followed by from oragainst ).
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.
Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim on Thursday defended the approach, saying the Southeast Asian nation "has done everything we can" to engage neighbouring Indonesia on the issue.
From Barron's ● Oct. 16, 2026
ICE, which did not immediately respond to a request for comment, has defended its arrests near courthouses as a “common sense” approach to apprehending offenders at times and locations where authorities know they will be.
From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 15, 2026
The Italians defended their crown the following year, despite losing their semi-final first leg at Anfield, edging Benfica in the final.
From BBC ● Oct. 14, 2026
Tuyo’s CEO and co-founder, Jorge Izquierdo, has defended the product on X, emphasizing that “this is not gambling” and “there’s no debt. You can only spend what you have.”
From MarketWatch ● Oct. 13, 2026
There was no space in my head to imagine that we nine would need the same armed forces that had defended us from danger abroad.
From "March Forward, Girl" by Melba Pattillo Beals
