mending

American  

[men-ding] / ˈmɛn dɪŋ /

noun

1. the act of a person or thing that mends.

2. articles, especially clothes, to be mended.

   Grandmother always kept her mending in this wicker basket.

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mending British  

/ ˈmɛndɪŋ /

noun

1. something to be mended, esp clothes

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Etymology

Origin of mending

Middle English word dating back to 1250–1300; mend, -ing ¹

Example Sentences

"You don't get many people mending raw cashmere," said Wade, whose role is to meticulously inspect and darn any defects in the fabric by hand, before it is washed, cut and shipped around the world.

From Barron's • Feb. 20, 2026

But the Mandelson mess makes mending what's been done that much harder.

From BBC • Feb. 7, 2026

Inviting us to sit down with a show about mental health professionals mending their spirits is group therapy on a massive scale in a time of diagnosable disorder.

From Salon • Feb. 7, 2026

Hill’s turnaround moves since then have included mending relationships with retailers such as Foot Locker and specialty running stores after Nike’s fizzled attempt to focus more on its own e-commerce sales.

From The Wall Street Journal • Nov. 10, 2025

Ahead, in the prow, two boys were bending over an upturned bike, mending a puncture perhaps.

From "Atonement" by Ian McEwan