Synonyms

amend

American

[uh-mend] / əˈmɛnd /

verb (used with object)

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.
to change for the better; improve.

to amend one's ways.
to remove or correct faults in; rectify.

Synonyms:

correct, remedy, better, ameliorate

Antonyms:

worsen

verb (used without object)

to grow or become better by reforming oneself.

He amends day by day.

amend British

/ əˈmɛnd /

verb

to improve; change for the better
to remove faults from; correct
to alter or revise (legislation, a constitution, etc) by formal procedure

"Collins English Dictionary — Complete & Unabridged" 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012

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

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Inflected Forms

Participles

Conjugated Forms

Present

Past

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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."

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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.

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

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

From "Linked" by Gordon Korman

Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023