amend

American  

[uh-mend] / əˈmɛnd /

verb (used with object)

• amends,
  present (3rd person singular)
• amended,
  past participle,  past
• amending
  present participle

1. 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.

2. to change for the better; improve.

   to amend one's ways.

3. to remove or correct faults in; rectify.

   Synonyms:

   correct, remedy, better, ameliorate

   Antonyms:

   worsen

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verb (used without object)

• amends,
  present (3rd person singular)
• amended,
  past participle,  past
• amending
  present participle

1. to grow or become better by reforming oneself.

   He amends day by day.

amend British  

/ əˈmɛnd /

verb

1. to improve; change for the better

2. to remove faults from; correct

3. to alter or revise (legislation, a constitution, etc) by formal procedure

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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

• amender
  noun
• reamend
  verb
• amendable
  adjective
• nonamendable
  adjective
• unamendable
  adjective
• unamending
  adjective

Inflected Forms

Participles

• amending
  present
• amended
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• amend
  simple
• amends
  simple
• have amended
  perfect
• has amended
  perfect
• am amending
  progressive
• are amending
  progressive
• is amending
  progressive
• have been amending
  perfect progressive
• has been amending
  perfect progressive

Past

• amended
  simple
• had amended
  perfect
• was amending
  progressive
• were amending
  progressive
• had been amending
  perfect progressive

Future

• will amend
  simple
• will have amended
  perfect
• will be amending
  progressive
• will have been amending
  perfect progressive

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."

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

amend amends amended amending

Was she explicitly told that she could add to or amend her statement if she remembered more about what happened?

From Slate ● Oct. 2, 2026

The state Legislature can amend the measure only with a two-thirds supermajority vote, and any changes would need to further the initiative.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

Damian dismissed an earlier version of the complaint in September 2025 but allowed the plaintiffs to amend their claims.

From Salon ● Sep. 19, 2026

The court heard that the Public Prosecution Service will be applying to amend dates on paperwork which they had lodged.

From BBC ● Aug. 17, 2026

Thinking of the others, I quickly amend my answer to “I thought it would be funny.”

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

Speaking about what she described as "other parts of his life", she said: "He did serve his time, he made amends, and he wanted to do a lot of good in the world."

From BBC ● Oct. 6, 2026

Mr. Barnett blithely amends the statement for children’s fiction: “Maybe more like 94.7 percent of kids’ books are crud.”

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 26, 2026

The “OG influencer” said that he attempted to make amends with some of the celebrities he targeted, including Britney Spears and Khloé Kardashian, whom he said were receptive to his apologies.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 7, 2026

Piroe made amends for the Premier League side by equalising with a backheel from a Sean Longstaff ball.

From BBC ● Jul. 26, 2026

Tyler Crowley was impossible, following me around, obsessed with making amends to me somehow.

From "Twilight" by Stephenie Meyer

“Under the amended lease, the Operator has agreed to repay $278,094 in back rent that was underbilled,” the report said.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 8, 2026

The amended pleas were accepted by fiscal Dylan Middleton for the Crown.

From BBC ● Oct. 1, 2026

Breakthrough amended the fund’s longstanding LLC agreement and gave itself unilateral signatory rights, he added.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Oct. 1, 2026

A document submitted to Los Angeles County Superior Court on Monday states that Williamson denies “each and every allegation” made against him by a Jane Doe in a second amended complaint filed in June.

From Los Angeles Times ● Sep. 23, 2026

“It isn’t supposed to be a party,” Helvar amended sullenly.

From "Six of Crows" by Leigh Bardugo

He supports amending the measure to exempt affordable housing developers.

From Los Angeles Times ● Oct. 1, 2026

There are still serious disputes to resolve however, including mechanisms for adopting a treaty and amending it in the future.

From Barron's ● Oct. 1, 2026

The Canadian government is also amending parts of the country’s labor code that officials said are designed to give management and unions with a history of strained relations more support and time to reach agreements.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Sep. 21, 2026

More recently the late Shinzo Abe, Kishi's grandson, became an advocate of amending the so-called pacifist clause during his time in office.

From BBC ● Jun. 17, 2026

I jot it down, amending it to ammonia, and pick out the next letter.

From "The Help" by Kathryn Stockett

Related Words

• alter
• enhance
• lift
• modify
• rectify
• revise