fend

American  

[fend] / fɛnd /

verb (used with object)

1. to ward off (often followed byoff ).

   to fend off blows.

2. to defend.

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verb (used without object)

1. to resist or make defense.

   to fend against poverty.

2. to parry; fence.

3. to shift; provide.

   to fend for oneself.

   Synonyms:

   manage

fend British  

/ fɛnd /

verb

1. to give support (to someone, esp oneself); provide (for)

2. to ward off or turn aside (blows, questions, attackers, etc)

3. archaic (tr) to defend or resist

4. dialect (intr) to struggle; strive

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noun

1. dialect a shift or effort

Usage

What is a basic definition of fend? Fend is a verb that means to force back. Fend can also mean to provide for or support. Fend has a few other senses as a verb. Fend means to force back or repel someone or something. In this sense, fend is almost always followed by the word off. This sense of fend can be used literally or figuratively. Usually, you would try to fend off something unpleasant or harmful.

• Real-life examples: Cows often have to fend off swarms of flies and gnats that try to bite them. A celebrity’s bodyguard may need to fend off excited fans that are trying to get too close. A business owner will fend off competition.
• Used in a sentence: An alpha wolf must fend off any younger wolves that try to attack it or its pups. 

Fend can also mean to support or provide for, especially for yourself. For example, a person without friends or family must fend for themselves and try to survive without any help.

• Real-life examples: People trapped on a deserted island must fend for themselves. Siblings may have to fend for each other when their parents can’t even fend for themselves.
• Used in a sentence: She never knew her parents and had to fend for herself since she was a child. 

Other Word Forms

• unfended adjective

Etymology

Origin of fend

1250–1300; Middle English fenden, aphetic variant of defenden to defend

Explanation

If you get along on your own, with no assistance from another person, you can say that you fend for yourself. A solo hiker on the Appalachian Trail fends for herself, managing the challenges without help. When the verb fend is used this way, it is almost always followed by "for oneself" or "for himself" or "for herself," and it's been in use since the 1600's. It originated as a shortened form of the verb defend, from the Latin root defendere, "to ward off, protect, or guard."

Example Sentences

When they were told their flight had left, she said EasyJet representatives then "left us to fend for ourselves".

From BBC • Apr. 13, 2026

He said that ServiceNow works with major companies and can leverage those longstanding relationships to fend off competition from new vendors hawking agentic AI offerings.

From MarketWatch • Mar. 31, 2026

The U.A.E. alone has had to fend off more than 2,000 attacks.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 24, 2026

"This time, we are left to fend for ourselves," Hiam added.

From Barron's • Mar. 12, 2026

He had saved the life of the King, whereupon Bull Sparra had vowed to care for her and her daughter: but he had instantly forgotten his promises, leaving the pair to fend for themselves.

From "Redwall" by Brian Jacques