mend

[mend]

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

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.

mend

/ 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)

noun

1. the act of repairing

2. a mended area, esp on a garment

3. becoming better, esp in health

Other Word Forms

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of mend¹

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

Word History and Origins

Origin of mend¹

C12: shortened from _amend

Idioms and Phrases

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.

More idioms and phrases containing mend

• on the mend

Synonym Study

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.

Example Sentences

While a fan favourite in Asia, Reed does not know if he can ever mend his reputation half a world away in the United States.

Read more on Barron's

While Beyond Meat may have expanded an existing partnership and introduced a new one on the back of heightened interest in the company, this doesn’t mend its underlying problems.

Read more on Barron's

South Korea, which had started to mend historically delicate ties with Japan, is wary because of her right-wing politics, which lean nationalist.

Read more on BBC

The skylight was usually secured by an alarm but that had been deactivated while the roof was being mended.

Read more on Barron's

What might induce schools to mend their ways?

Read more on The Wall Street Journal

Related Words

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