mend
to make (something broken, worn, torn, or otherwise damaged) whole, sound, or usable by repairing: to mend old clothes; to mend a broken toy.
to remove or correct defects or errors in.
to set right; make better; improve: to mend matters.
to progress toward recovery, as a sick person.
(of broken bones) to grow back together; knit.
to improve, as conditions or affairs.
the act of mending; repair or improvement.
a mended place.
Idioms about mend
mend sail, Nautical. to refurl sails that have been badly furled.: Also mend the furl .
on the mend,
recovering from an illness.
improving in general, as a state of affairs: The breach between father and son is on the mend.
Origin of mend
1synonym study For mend
Other words for mend
Opposites for mend
Other words from mend
- mend·a·ble, adjective
- re·mend, verb
- un·mend·a·ble, adjective
- un·mend·ed, adjective
- well-mended, adjective
Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
How to use mend in a sentence
Thirdly, to mend themselves, and the existing state of things, as far as either are marred or mendable.
Modern Painters Vol. III. | John Ruskin
British Dictionary definitions for mend
/ (mɛnd) /
(tr) to repair (something broken or unserviceable)
to improve or undergo improvement; reform (often in the phrase mend one's ways)
(intr) to heal or recover
(intr) (of conditions) to improve; become better
(tr) Northern English to feed or stir (a fire)
the act of repairing
a mended area, esp on a garment
on the mend becoming better, esp in health
Origin of mend
1Derived forms of mend
- mendable, adjective
- mender, noun
Collins English Dictionary - Complete & Unabridged 2012 Digital Edition © William Collins Sons & Co. Ltd. 1979, 1986 © HarperCollins Publishers 1998, 2000, 2003, 2005, 2006, 2007, 2009, 2012
Other Idioms and Phrases with mend
In addition to the idioms beginning with mend
- mend one's fences
- mend one's ways
also see:
- on the mend
The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary Copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
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