fend

[fend]

verb (used with object)

1. to ward off (often followed byoff ).

   to fend off blows.

2. to defend.

verb (used without object)

1. to resist or make defense.

   to fend against poverty.

2. to parry; fence.

3. to shift; provide.

   to fend for oneself.

   Synonyms: manage

fend

/ fɛnd /

verb

1. to give support (to someone, esp oneself); provide (for)

2. to ward off or turn aside (blows, questions, attackers, etc)

3. archaic,  (tr) to defend or resist

4. dialect,  (intr) to struggle; strive

noun

1. dialect,  a shift or effort

Other Word Forms

• unfended adjective

Word History and Origins

Origin of fend¹

1250–1300; Middle English fenden, aphetic variant of defenden to defend

Word History and Origins

Origin of fend¹

C13 fenden , shortened from defenden to _defend

Example Sentences

Even so, Pfizer—which had recently been fending off an activist investor as patents on key drugs expire and Covid revenue fades—still has time to decide it is better to negotiate than fight.

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

His latest, The Boy Who Played The Harp, knocked Taylor Swift's Life of a Showgirl off the top spot, and managed to fend off competition from Lily Allen's much talked-about West End Girl.

Read more on BBC

His party not only fended off losses in the midterm elections but made inroads, strengthening his position.

Read more on BBC

There, Smith proclaims herself general of the neighborhood’s Buddy Gang, fearlessly fending off bullies twice her size, while at school, she was viewed as odd by her teachers, “like something out of Hans Christian Andersen.”

Read more on Los Angeles Times

Do you think Amazon can fend off rivals to its cloud-computing throne?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

When To Use

What is a basic definition of fend?

Fend is a verb that means to force back. Fend can also mean to provide for or support. Fend has a few other senses as a verb.Fend means to force back or repel someone or something. In this sense, fend is almost always followed by the word off. This sense of fend can be used literally or figuratively. Usually, you would try to fend off something unpleasant or harmful.

• Real-life examples: Cows often have to fend off swarms of flies and gnats that try to bite them. A celebrity’s bodyguard may need to fend off excited fans that are trying to get too close. A business owner will fend off competition.



• Used in a sentence: An alpha wolf must fend off any younger wolves that try to attack it or its pups. 

Fend can also mean to support or provide for, especially for yourself. For example, a person without friends or family must fend for themselves and try to survive without any help.

• Real-life examples: People trapped on a deserted island must fend for themselves. Siblings may have to fend for each other when their parents can’t even fend for themselves.



• Used in a sentence: She never knew her parents and had to fend for herself since she was a child.