contend

[ kuhn-tend ]
/ kənˈtɛnd /
SEE SYNONYMS FOR contend ON THESAURUS.COM

verb (used without object)

to struggle in opposition: to contend with the enemy for control of the port.
to strive in rivalry; compete; vie: to contend for first prize.
to strive in debate; dispute earnestly: to contend against falsehood.

verb (used with object)

to assert or maintain earnestly: He contended that taxes were too high.

Origin of contend

1400–50; late Middle English contenden < Anglo-French contendre < Latin contendere to compete, strive, draw tight, equivalent to con- con- + tendere to stretch; see tend1

synonym study for contend

2. See compete.

OTHER WORDS FROM contend

WORDS THAT MAY BE CONFUSED WITH contend

contend contest

Words nearby contend

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Words related to contend

vie, confront, cope, resist, grapple, oppose, meet, argue, dispute, claim, urge, defend, charge, insist, assert, say, maintain, allege, tell, withstand

Example sentences from the Web for contend

British Dictionary definitions for contend

contend
/ (kənˈtɛnd) /

verb

(intr often foll by with) to struggle in rivalry, battle, etc; vie
to argue earnestly; debate
(tr; may take a clause as object) to assert or maintain

Derived forms of contend

contender, noun contendingly, adverb

Word Origin for contend

C15: from Latin contendere to strive, from com- with + tendere to stretch, aim