amend
Americanverb (used with object)
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to alter, modify, rephrase, or add to or subtract from (a motion, bill, constitution, etc.) by formal procedure.
Congress may amend the proposed tax bill.
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to change for the better; improve.
to amend one's ways.
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to remove or correct faults in; rectify.
- Synonyms:
- correct, remedy, better, ameliorate
- Antonyms:
- worsen
verb (used without object)
verb
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to improve; change for the better
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to remove faults from; correct
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to alter or revise (legislation, a constitution, etc) by formal procedure
Synonym Usage
Amend, emend both mean to improve by correcting or by freeing from error. Amend is the general term, used of any such correction in detail: to amend spelling, punctuation, grammar. Emend usually applies to the correction of a text in the process of editing or preparing for publication; it implies improvement in the sense of greater accuracy: He emended the text of the play by restoring the original reading.
Other Word Forms
Derived Forms
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amendernoun
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reamendverb
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amendableadjective
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nonamendableadjective
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unamendableadjective
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unamendingadjective
Inflected Forms
Participles
Conjugated Forms
Present
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amendsimple
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amendssimple
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have amendedperfect
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has amendedperfect
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am amendingprogressive
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are amendingprogressive
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is amendingprogressive
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have been amendingperfect progressive
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has been amendingperfect progressive
Past
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amendedsimple
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had amendedperfect
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was amendingprogressive
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were amendingprogressive
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had been amendingperfect progressive
Future
Etymology
Origin of amend
First recorded in 1175–1225; Middle English amenden, from Old French amender, from Latin ēmendāre “to correct,” equivalent to ē- “out of, from” + mend(a) “blemish” + -āre infinitive suffix; see e- 1
Explanation
When you amend something, you correct or improve it. If you confused your audience when you gave your speech, don't be afraid to amend what you said. Amend can also describe adding amendments to an official document, such as a constitution or law. If politicians in your state want to address the growing number of home foreclosures, they might amend the state constitution to include restrictions intended to reduce foreclosures. Amend comes from the Latin word emendare, meaning "to correct, free from fault."
Vocabulary lists containing amend
The Watsons Go to Birmingham
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Restart
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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.
See Examples For:
Revocable trusts allow the person who opens it to retain control during their lifetime and amend it, revoke it or move assets in and out of it, she said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jul. 10, 2026
Maybe you think other statutes, like the Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act, or removal protections for the Federal Reserve, are just as important to amend.
From Slate ● Jul. 6, 2026
The EU's opinion does not prevent France from introducing a minimum age, but it must now amend the draft law to make it compatible with EU rules.
From Barron's ● Jul. 6, 2026
Supervisor Nathan Magsig moved to amend the resolution to add language recognizing single parents, grandparents and foster parents.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 1, 2026
“I need to amend my ‘Ways I Hope Not to Die’ list,” said Lazlo.
From "Strange the Dreamer" by Laini Taylor
But one aspect of a fair justice system is for wrongdoers to face proportionate consequences—not to be shunned forever, but to be expected to own up, make amends, and, sometimes, pay a penalty.
From Slate ● Jul. 7, 2026
He gets a lot of those letters and visits, that are like people making amends.
From Salon ● Jul. 5, 2026
Supporters of the Church's promise to make amends say it has a responsibility to address the legacy of slavery.
From BBC ● Jun. 18, 2026
She made amends by hitting the first winner of her comeback with another volley to the delight of the crowd.
From Barron's ● Jun. 9, 2026
Was this her way of making amends for that role?
From "City of the Plague God" by Sarwat Chadda
The National Assembly approved the bill at first reading in January but the Senate later amended it to target only the most harmful platforms, prompting concern in Brussels.
From Barron's ● Jul. 12, 2026
Alex Norris Home Office minster of state told the Commons the government was "examining every option" and reiterated Ahmed could not be deported unless a 55-year-old law was amended.
From BBC ● Jul. 6, 2026
The Constitution was later amended to allow for income taxes rather than wealth taxes.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Jun. 30, 2026
He signed an amended contract in June 2025, as Warner Bros.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 29, 2026
Well, I amended, the Regan I’d just seen in the hall had only left it a minute ago.
From "Glitch" by Laura Martin
In the letter, the suit says, university officials were amending their investigation to include a May 8 protest she had attended in which urged students to violate university policies, among other allegations.
From Los Angeles Times ● Jun. 30, 2026
S&P Dow Jones Indices announced on Thursday that it decided against amending its policies for index inclusion.
From MarketWatch ● Jun. 5, 2026
Meanwhile, Hershey is amending the recipe for KitKats—which it distributes in the U.S.—Chief Growth Officer Stacy Taffet said.
From The Wall Street Journal ● Apr. 17, 2026
"So the best scenario for Japan is that Takaichi kind of takes a deep breath and focuses on amending the relationship with China."
From Barron's ● Feb. 7, 2026
I jot it down, amending it to ammonia, and pick out the next letter.
From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett
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.
