mend

1. 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 WORDS FROM mend

mend·a·ble, adjectivere·mend, verbun·mend·a·ble, adjectiveun·mend·ed, adjective

well-mended, adjective

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2022

How to use mend in a sentence

Her grandmother was hospitalized for a week but is on the mend.
At dinner parties and game nights, casual American life is fueling the coronavirus surge|Karin Brulliard|November 12, 2020|Washington Post
They were then shipped to Archive laboratories in Maryland where mold was removed and rips mended.
Saddam’s Jewish Treasures|Josh Robin|February 8, 2014|DAILY BEAST
Troubled relationships can actually be mended during this time.
Astrologers Predict Holiday Hell|Gina Piccalo|November 21, 2010|DAILY BEAST
But look for any breach between the GOP establishment powerhouse and the Tea Party-backed Paul to be mended very quickly.
Will the Insurgents Sell Out?|Samuel P. Jacobs|May 19, 2010|DAILY BEAST

In excusing the Freedom of your Satyr, you urge that it galls no body, because nobody minds it enough to be mended by it.
A Letter from Mr. Cibber to Mr. Pope|Colley Cibber
It almost broke her heart, though; broke it for a year, and then a dashing cousin of his mended it.
Tessa Wadsworth's Discipline|Jennie M. Drinkwater
The latter syllable of Venus comes at the csural pause; but the scansion is best mended by omitting nygh; see footnote.
Chaucer's Works, Volume 1 (of 7) -- Romaunt of the Rose; Minor Poems|Geoffrey Chaucer
Henri did not appear, though she had sent what she suspected was his only tunic back to him neatly mended at five o'clock.
The Amazing Interlude|Mary Roberts Rinehart
The moccasins had to be mended, however, as the night travel down the Scioto path had sadly damaged them.
A Virginia Scout|Hugh Pendexter

British Dictionary definitions for mend

mend

/ (mɛnd) /

verb

(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)

noun

the act of repairing

a mended area, esp on a garment

on the mend becoming better, esp in health

Derived forms of mend

mendable, adjectivemender, noun

Word Origin for mend

C12: shortened from amend

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

mend

In addition to the idioms beginning with mend

mend one's fences
mend one's ways

also see:

on the mend

mend

OTHER WORDS FOR mend

OPPOSITES FOR mend

Idioms about mend

Origin of mend

synonym study for mend

OTHER WORDS FROM mend

Words related to mend

How to use mend in a sentence

British Dictionary definitions for mend

Derived forms of mend

Word Origin for mend

Other Idioms and Phrases with mend