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

That panel would write a reform bill that Congress would have to consider on an expedited basis, although lawmakers would be free to amend it at will.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 13, 2026

“The California Constitution requires the legislature to go back to the voters if it wishes to amend or repeal a voter-passed law like Prop. 28.”

From Los Angeles Times ● Jul. 29, 2026

If she is still of sound mind, she can amend her will and nominate someone else.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 28, 2026

As first reported by the Telegraph, Shabana Mahmood is expected to set out on Monday how she plans to amend the 1971 Immigration Act which currently stops Shabir Ahmed being removed from the UK.

From BBC ● Jul. 8, 2026

You will, of course, be required to amend the permanent record when a name is decided upon.”

From "The Namesake" by Jhumpa Lahiri

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

Norris' pole provides an opportunity to make amends for that - if he can keep Leclerc behind on the run to the first corner.

From BBC ● Jul. 25, 2026

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 was actually trying to make amends for his unfair characterization of Adams in the Priestley letter as one of the “ancients.”

From "Founding Brothers: The Revolutionary Generation" by Joseph J. Ellis

In November, he proposed a council motion, which was amended before being passed, asking officials to draw up proposals for a "full range of enforcement routes" for the site.

From BBC ● Aug. 15, 2026

The proposal approved Wednesday calls for the five-year-old agreement to be amended to ensure that those contingency funds can be used to cover the city’s costs in the event that other funds aren’t available.

From Los Angeles Times ● Aug. 13, 2026

After a judge last year found a pro-separatist petition violated a law, Smith amended the law.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Aug. 5, 2026

Nvidia already has committed to investments in OpenAI, and also amended some of the earlier terms of such arrangements.

From MarketWatch ● Jul. 27, 2026

If a door closes, she amended to me after his sermon, find yourself a window and climb through it.

From "October Sky" by Homer Hickam

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

Chief executives and analysts say companies need to see the U.S. oil benchmark hover between $75 and $85 a barrel for several months before they consider amending their drilling programs.

From The Wall Street Journal ● Mar. 14, 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

There was talk of amending the constitution to take this apathy into account.

From "Newjack: Guarding Sing Sing" by Ted Conover

Related Words

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