fend

American  

[fend] / fɛnd /

verb (used with object)

1. to ward off (often followed byoff ).

   to fend off blows.

2. to defend.

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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 British  

/ 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

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noun

1. dialect a shift or effort

Usage

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. 

Other Word Forms

• unfended adjective

Etymology

Origin of fend

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

Example Sentences

He said that ServiceNow works with major companies and can leverage those longstanding relationships to fend off competition from new vendors hawking agentic AI offerings.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

Fernando Alonso, in the week in which he welcomed the birth of his son, was 18th, managing to fend off the Cadillac of Valtteri Bottas.

From BBC • Mar. 29, 2026

“Seeing the richest and largest companies unable to fend off a litigation like this expands the scope of plaintiffs lawyers who will be willing to mount similar cases.”

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 28, 2026

The U.A.E. alone has had to fend off more than 2,000 attacks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

We’re at the beginning, Chapter Two, where the kids are only just realizing that they’re going to have to fend for themselves.

From "Please Ignore Vera Dietz" by A.S. King