contend

American  

[kuhn-tend] / kənˈtɛnd /

verb (used without object)

contends, present (3rd person singular) contended, past participle, past contending present participle

1. to struggle in opposition.

   to contend with the enemy for control of the port.

   Synonyms:

   fight, battle, grapple, wrestle

2. to strive in rivalry; compete; vie.

   to contend for first prize.

3. to strive in debate; dispute earnestly.

   to contend against falsehood.

   Synonyms:

   wrangle, argue

   Antonyms:

   agree

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verb (used with object)

contends, present (3rd person singular) contended, past participle, past contending present participle

1. to assert or maintain earnestly.

   He contended that taxes were too high.

   Synonyms:

   claim, hold

contend British  

/ kənˈtɛnd /

verb

1. to struggle in rivalry, battle, etc; vie

2. to argue earnestly; debate

3. (tr; may take a clause as object) to assert or maintain

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Synonym Usage

See compete.

Other Word Forms

Derived Forms

• contender
  noun
• noncontending
  adjective
• uncontended
  adjective
• uncontending
  adjective
• contendingly
  adverb

Inflected Forms

Participles

• contending
  present
• contended
  past

Conjugated Forms

Present

• contend
  simple
• contends
  simple
• have contended
  perfect
• has contended
  perfect
• am contending
  progressive
• are contending
  progressive
• is contending
  progressive
• have been contending
  perfect progressive
• has been contending
  perfect progressive

Past

• contended
  simple
• had contended
  perfect
• was contending
  progressive
• were contending
  progressive
• had been contending
  perfect progressive

Future

• will contend
  simple
• will have contended
  perfect
• will be contending
  progressive
• will have been contending
  perfect progressive

Etymology

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-, tend ¹

Explanation

To defend a belief or keep affirming that it's true is to contend. People used to contend that the earth was flat, but eventually, when no one dropped off the edge no matter how far they traveled, the "round" theory won. One of the meanings of contend is from the French "to strive with," and it is a literal fighting, as in "to contend with fists." Most contemporary uses of the verb contend illustrate competitions of proof or defense, where a person will contend that something is true, or better, or wrong. It is still a striving but more of a verbal kind, where what you contend is what you hope to convince others is correct.

Example Sentences

The authors contend that no facility currently operating on Earth can guarantee complete containment, elimination, or control of an unknown alien microorganism if an accident were to occur.

From Science Daily • Jul. 6, 2026

St. Louis Cardinals player Jordan Walker dramatically improved his performance in 2026, helping the team unexpectedly contend for playoffs.

From The Wall Street Journal • Jul. 1, 2026

And just as inflation appeared to be coming under control, consumers and investors had to contend with new shocks from trade tariffs and, later, the U.S.-Iran war and a surge in gasoline prices.

From MarketWatch • Jun. 29, 2026

This and other sketches hang heavily on guest star power as opposed to mordancy, but the best contend that maybe it was inevitable that we would end up where we are now.

From Salon • Jun. 26, 2026

Paranoia was always the first malady to contend with when entering a new school.

From "The Great Santini" by Pat Conroy

Related Words

• argue
• confront
• cope
• dispute
• go after
• grapple
• meet
• oppose
• push for
• resist
• vie