mend

American  

[mend] / mɛnd /

verb (used with object)

1. to make (something broken, worn, torn, or otherwise damaged) whole, sound, or usable by repairing.

   to mend old clothes; to mend a broken toy.

   Synonyms:

   retouch, restore, fix

   Antonyms:

   destroy, ruin

2. to remove or correct defects or errors in.

   Synonyms:

   emend, amend, rectify

3. to set right; make better; improve.

   to mend matters.

   Synonyms:

   ameliorate

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verb (used without object)

1. to progress toward recovery, as a sick person.

   Synonyms:

   amend, recover, heal

   Antonyms:

   sicken, die

2. (of broken bones) to grow back together; knit.

3. to improve, as conditions or affairs.

noun

1. the act of mending; repair or improvement.

2. a mended place.

idioms

1. mend sail, to refurl sails that have been badly furled. Also mend the furl

2. on the mend,

   1. recovering from an illness.

   2. improving in general, as a state of affairs.

      The breach between father and son is on the mend.

mend British  

/ mɛnd /

verb

1. (tr) to repair (something broken or unserviceable)

2. to improve or undergo improvement; reform (often in the phrase mend one's ways )

3. (intr) to heal or recover

4. (intr) (of conditions) to improve; become better

5. (tr) to feed or stir (a fire)

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noun

1. the act of repairing

2. a mended area, esp on a garment

3. becoming better, esp in health

mend More Idioms  

More idioms and phrases containing mend

• on the mend

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Related Words

Mend, darn, patch mean to repair something and thus renew its usefulness. Mend is a general expression that emphasizes the idea of making whole something damaged: to mend a broken dish, a tear in an apron. Darn and patch are more specific, referring particularly to repairing holes or tears. To darn is to repair by means of stitches interwoven with one another: to darn stockings. To patch is to cover a hole or tear, usually with a piece or pieces of similar material and to secure the edges of these; it implies a more temporary or makeshift repair than the others: to patch the knees of trousers, a rubber tire.

Other Word Forms

• mendable
  adjective
• mender
  noun
• remend
  verb
• unmendable
  adjective
• unmended
  adjective
• well-mended
  adjective

Etymology

Origin of mend

1150–1200; Middle English menden, aphetic variant of amend

Explanation

When you mend something, you fix it or make it better. If you can mend your broken lamp, then it will shine again. If not you'll have to sit in the dark. The word mend was originally used as a religious term, meaning to free a person from sin, usually through repentance and good deeds. Mend has come to refer to fixing something that is broken. A mechanic might mend a broken car, or a seamstress might mend a torn dress. The word also frequently relates health and healing. Someone recovering from a long bout of the flu is said to be "on the mend." But as the song goes, "How can you mend a broken heart?"

Example Sentences

The supply chain goes beyond retailers like Sekky and includes importers, wholesalers, tailors who mend damaged mitumba and those who sell food and drink at the markets.

From BBC • May 23, 2026

Starrs has made it a priority to mend fences; his strategy calls for doubling dealer profits this year, and quadrupling them by 2029.

From The Wall Street Journal • May 5, 2026

Campbell is a keen botanist and has a diploma from the Royal Horticultural Society; Robertson has started learning how to mend clothes and is an avid music video fan.

From Los Angeles Times • Apr. 30, 2026

King Charles III will begin a four-day diplomatic visit to Washington to mend the fraying U.S.-U.K. relationship.

From The Wall Street Journal • Apr. 27, 2026

“Doesn’t work. We call the super, ask him when he going to fix, when he going to mend the heating, he does not care, goes to Arizona for the winter for his chest.”

From "American Gods" by Neil Gaiman

Related Words

• ameliorate
• cure
• heal
• rebuild
• reconstruct
• rectify
• redress
• rejuvenate
• renew
• repair
• restore
• revamp
• sew