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contend

[ kuhn-tend ]
/ kənˈtɛnd /
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See synonyms for: contend / contended / contending / contends on Thesaurus.com

verb (used without object)
to struggle in opposition: to contend with the enemy for control of the port.
to strive in rivalry; compete; vie: to contend for first prize.
to strive in debate; dispute earnestly: to contend against falsehood.
verb (used with object)
to assert or maintain earnestly: He contended that taxes were too high.
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Origin of contend

First recorded in 1400–50; late Middle English contenden, from Anglo-French contendre, from Latin contendere “to compete, strive, draw tight,” equivalent to con- prefix meaning “with, together” + tendere “to stretch”; see con-, tend1

synonym study for contend

2. See compete.

OTHER WORDS FROM contend

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH contend

contend , contest
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023

How to use contend in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for contend

contend
/ (kənˈtɛnd) /

verb
(intr often foll by with) to struggle in rivalry, battle, etc; vie
to argue earnestly; debate
(tr; may take a clause as object) to assert or maintain

Derived forms of contend

contender, nouncontendingly, adverb

Word Origin for contend

C15: from Latin contendere to strive, from com- with + tendere to stretch, aim
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
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