Word forms: 3rd person singular presenttense contends, present participle contending, past tense, past participle contended
1. verb
If you have to contend with a problem or difficulty, you have to deal with it or overcome it.
It is time, once again, to contend with racism. [VERB + with]
American businesses could soon have a new kind of lawsuit to contend with. [VERB + with]
2. verb
If you contendthat something is true, you state or argue that it is true.
[formal]
The government contends that he is fundamentalist. [VERB that]
'You were just looking,' contends Samantha. 'I was the one doing all the work.' [VERB with quote]
Synonyms: argue, hold, maintain, allege More Synonyms of contend
3. verb
If you contendwith someone for something such as power, you compete with them to try to get it.
...the two main groups contending for power. [VERB + for]
...with 10 U.K. construction yards contending with rivals from Norway, Holland, Italyand Spain. [VERB + with]
...a binding political settlement between the contending parties. [VERB-ing]
Synonyms: compete, fight, struggle, clash More Synonyms of contend
contend in British English
(kənˈtɛnd)
verb
1. (intransitive; often foll bywith)
to struggle in rivalry, battle, etc; vie
2.
to argue earnestly; debate
3. (tr; may take a clause as object)
to assert or maintain
Derived forms
contender (conˈtender)
noun
contendingly (conˈtendingly)
adverb
Word origin
C15: from Latin contendere to strive, from com- with + tendere to stretch, aim
contend in American English
(kənˈtɛnd)
verb intransitive
1.
to strive in combat; fight
2.
to strive in competition; vie
contend for a prize
3.
to strive in debate or controversy; dispute
verb transitive
4.
to hold to be a fact; assert
we contend that he is guilty
Word origin
ME contenden, to compete < L contendere, to stretch out, strive after < com-, together + tendere, to stretch: see tense1
Examples of 'contend' in a sentence
contend
The claimant contended that it was not.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
We have two powerful movements contending for the soul of this nation.
Christianity Today (2000)
No one could contend that the nexus was very obvious.
Times, Sunday Times (2011)
The jurors also had to contend with the patchy recollection of the two defendants.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
And now the birds must contend with the poachers.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The commercial broadcaster will also have to contend with fierce opposition from major advertising agencies.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
Businesses will also have to contend with space constraints.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
The defendant contended that the risk manager had not been engaged in any automatic processing of the data.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
That is because it's going to take a while for us to contend again.
The Sun (2013)
Where are the MPs contending that government is far too intrusive and overbearing?
Times, Sunday Times (2015)
This society did not have to contend with the problems of outright new nationhood that preoccupied so many other parts of the world.
Stearns, Peter N. World History: Patterns of Change and Continuity (1995)
Scholars at universities in southern Africa have had to contend with another problem.
The Times Literary Supplement (2013)
When it comes to conserving our natural world, there are two arguments to contend with.
The Sun (2009)
No one can contend that prejudice and racial hatred are yesterday's problems.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Various defendants contended that the Italian courts lacked jurisdiction because of the jurisdiction clause contained in the prospectus.
Times, Sunday Times (2016)
The claimant contended that the council had failed to consider whether the works might have environmental impacts in combination with the freight and distribution facility.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
If mathematics were all the next government had to contend with, this money could be raised through extra taxes.
Times, Sunday Times (2009)
Senior managers had to contend with government interference, staff unwilling to accept changes and unions eager to flex their muscles.
Times, Sunday Times (2006)
But the different instincts and intentions of the three men contending for power should now be clearer and that is itself asmall triumph for democracy.
Times, Sunday Times (2010)
The claimants contended that the increase in air passenger duty was unlawful, and that the duty itself had always been unlawful.
Times, Sunday Times (2007)
And it doesn't mean companies can put employee engagement to one side because there are more pressing problems to contend with.
Times, Sunday Times (2014)
In other languages
contend
British English: contend VERB
to contend with sth If you have to contend with a problem or difficulty, you have to deal with it or overcome it.
It is time to contend with this problem.
American English: contend
Brazilian Portuguese: enfrentar
Chinese: 解决
European Spanish: resolver
French: faire face
German: kämpfen mit
Italian: cimentarsi
Japanese: 対処する
Korean: ~와 대적하다
European Portuguese: enfrentar
Latin American Spanish: resolver
Chinese translation of 'contend'
contend
(kənˈtɛnd)
vi
to contend with[problem, difficulty]对(對)付 (duìfù)
to contend for[power, title, medal, prize]争(爭)夺(奪) (zhēngduó)
vt
to contend that ... 争(爭)辩(辯)道 ... (zhēngbiàn dào ... )
he has a lot to contend with他有许(許)多问(問)题(題)要处(處)理 (tā yǒu xǔduō wèntí yào chǔlǐ)
1 (verb)
Definition
to assert
The government contends that he is a fundamentalist.
Synonyms
argue
His lawyers are arguing that he is unfit to stand trial.
hold
She has never held a ministerial post.
maintain
Prosecutors maintain that no deal was made.
allege
The accused is alleged to have killed a man.
assert
We assert that the bill violates the First Amendment.
affirm
`The place is a dump,' she affirmed.
avow
a public statement avowing neutrality
aver
Her friends aver that men find her fascinating.
2 (verb)
Definition
to compete or fight
The two main groups contended for power.
Synonyms
compete
The stores will inevitably end up competing with each other for increased market shares.
fight
She devoted her life to fighting poverty.
struggle
The shopkeeper struggled with the intruder for some time before the intruder ran off.
clash
contest
strive
He strives hard to keep himself very fit.
emulate
vie
The two candidates are vying for the support of the New York voters.
grapple
He grappled desperately with Holmes for control of the weapon.
jostle
the contenders who have been jostling for the top job
skirmish
Police skirmished with youths on a council estate last Friday.
dispute
Whole towns disputed with neighboring villages over boundaries.