amend

American  

[uh-mend] / əˈmɛnd /

verb (used with object)

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)

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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Related Words

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

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

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; e- ¹

Example Sentences

The streaming giant is reportedly mulling whether to amend its already-accepted offer to an all-cash bid to remove a partial stock component that has declined in value since its initial proposal was agreed upon.

From MarketWatch

“I believe you can make amends,” she said, her skirts swishing as she crossed the room again and reached for the door.

From Literature

On Thursday, Brian Dunn, managing partner and lead civil rights attorney with the Cochran Firm, which brought the lawsuit, filed an amended complaint that included 16 additional inmate plaintiffs.

From Los Angeles Times

“I don’t see the continuation of the Panama Ports contract at the moment, amended or not,” Mulino said in July after the comptroller filed the lawsuits with the high court.

From The Wall Street Journal

A report by a committee set up to scrutinise the bill warned ministers that if they failed to amend the provisions on lying it may not get the support it needs from Senedd politicians.

From BBC

Related Words

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