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

Example Sentences

Her job was to help mend fractured UK-US relations.

From BBC • Mar. 31, 2026

Yet, as a new play begins to brew in his mind, Jack resolves to mend their relationship.

From Los Angeles Times • Mar. 3, 2026

The prime minister is traveling to India, until now a bitter rival, to mend fences and build new alliances with the world’s middle powers.

From The Wall Street Journal • Mar. 2, 2026

You’re not going to mend this relationship in a week or even a month.

From MarketWatch • Feb. 27, 2026

Will thought: It’ll tell us how to mend the knife!

From "The Amber Spyglass" by Philip Pullman

Related Words

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