mend
1 of 2verb
ˈmend 
mended; mending; mends
transitive verb
1
: to free from faults or defects: such as
a
: to improve in manners or morals : reform
was advised to mend his ways
b
: to set right : correct
mend a corrupt text
c
: to put into good shape or working order again : patch up : repair
the roads were never mended
Ellen Glasgow
Ellen Glasgow d
: to improve or strengthen (something, such as a relationship) by negotiation or conciliation —used chiefly in the phrase mend fences
spends the weekend mending political fences E. O. Hauser
E. O. Hauser e
: to restore to health : cure
before the bone was fully mended Current Biography
Current Biography2
: to make amends or atonement for
least said, soonest mended
intransitive verb
1
: to improve morally : reform
It's never too late to mend.
2
: to become corrected or improved
depression and lack of spirit mended visibly Arnold Nicholson
Arnold Nicholson3
: to improve in health
also : heal
his injury mended rather quickly
mendable
ˈmen-də-bəl
adjective mender noun
mend
2 of 2noun
1
: an act of mending : repair
2
: a mended place
Synonyms
Verb
- doctor
- fix
- patch
- recondition
- renovate
- repair
- revamp
See all Synonyms & Antonyms 
Example Sentences
Verb The town needs to mend these roads. Fishermen were mending their nets. Her arm mended slowly after surgery. His broken heart never completely mended. Noun You can hardly see the mend in the sleeve.
Recent Examples on the Web Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Aug. 2022 Mission 66 revitalization efforts began in 1955 to mend deterioration that occurred during WWII. Fox News, 21 May 2022 In particular, Abrams helped mend relations after some Latter-day Saints performed proxy baptisms for Holocaust victims, angering many Jewish adherents. David Noyce, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 June 2022 Rate increases can’t lower gas prices, mend supply chains or persuade people to seek out jobs. Rachel Siegel, Anchorage Daily News, 14 June 2022 Rate increases can’t lower gas prices, mend supply chains or persuade people to seek out jobs. Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 14 June 2022 First lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska convened a virtual summit in Kyiv where world leaders and Hollywood stars joined, asking for help mend the country and its people when the war ends. Fox News, 23 July 2022 Bruce, as Batman and as both a Wayne and an Arkham, is faced with the choice of which wounds to mend, and to have faith that the consequences will ultimately reconstruct Gotham for the better. Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2022 My father was taught how to cook, how to mend his socks and sew on buttons, how to navigate public transportation. New York Times, 18 July 2022 Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2022 After spending a few days in the hospital, Chin is now thankfully on the mend. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2022 With division races tightening up and wild-card battles gaining definition, a handful of stars are on the mend from injuries, many of them months-long, impactful absences. Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2022 His son Zafar Rushdie said in a statement on Sunday that the writer was on the mend. Justine Browning, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2022 The sisters' relationship seemed on the mend as Kyle supported Kim through her recovery. Staff Author Published, Peoplemag, 15 Aug. 2022 The Blink-182 star who has produced Kellz’s last two pop-punk albums has been on the mend from pancreatitis. cleveland, 14 Aug. 2022 But Ryder is on the mend, says Christina Hansen, shop steward and carriage driver, who is handling his care. Michael Roppolo, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2022 For Bob, the strangeness hit a week after the transplant, when Bobbie, at home and on the mend, cooked him dinner. Stephanie Mansfield, Good Housekeeping, 11 Aug. 2022 See More
Verb
Jeff Klein’s newish West Hollywood private club — formerly a derelict bathhouse — has emerged as a go-to hang for stars and decision-makers to catch up, cut deals or mend fences (remember that Steven Spielberg and Ted Sarandos confab?). Kirsten Chuba, The Hollywood Reporter, 5 Aug. 2022 Mission 66 revitalization efforts began in 1955 to mend deterioration that occurred during WWII. Fox News, 21 May 2022 In particular, Abrams helped mend relations after some Latter-day Saints performed proxy baptisms for Holocaust victims, angering many Jewish adherents. David Noyce, The Salt Lake Tribune, 16 June 2022 Rate increases can’t lower gas prices, mend supply chains or persuade people to seek out jobs. Rachel Siegel, Anchorage Daily News, 14 June 2022 Rate increases can’t lower gas prices, mend supply chains or persuade people to seek out jobs. Rachel Siegel, Washington Post, 14 June 2022 First lady of Ukraine Olena Zelenska convened a virtual summit in Kyiv where world leaders and Hollywood stars joined, asking for help mend the country and its people when the war ends. Fox News, 23 July 2022 Bruce, as Batman and as both a Wayne and an Arkham, is faced with the choice of which wounds to mend, and to have faith that the consequences will ultimately reconstruct Gotham for the better. Richard Newby, The Hollywood Reporter, 9 Mar. 2022 My father was taught how to cook, how to mend his socks and sew on buttons, how to navigate public transportation. New York Times, 18 July 2022 Noun
Several other injured veterans remain on the mend, including Tommy Kahnle, Danny Duffy and David Price. Jack Harris, Los Angeles Times, 9 Sep. 2022 After spending a few days in the hospital, Chin is now thankfully on the mend. Anna Lazarus Caplan, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2022 With division races tightening up and wild-card battles gaining definition, a handful of stars are on the mend from injuries, many of them months-long, impactful absences. Gabe Lacques, USA TODAY, 17 Aug. 2022 His son Zafar Rushdie said in a statement on Sunday that the writer was on the mend. Justine Browning, EW.com, 15 Aug. 2022 The sisters' relationship seemed on the mend as Kyle supported Kim through her recovery. Staff Author Published, Peoplemag, 15 Aug. 2022 The Blink-182 star who has produced Kellz’s last two pop-punk albums has been on the mend from pancreatitis. cleveland, 14 Aug. 2022 But Ryder is on the mend, says Christina Hansen, shop steward and carriage driver, who is handling his care. Michael Roppolo, CBS News, 12 Aug. 2022 For Bob, the strangeness hit a week after the transplant, when Bobbie, at home and on the mend, cooked him dinner. Stephanie Mansfield, Good Housekeeping, 11 Aug. 2022 See More Word History
Etymology
Verb
Middle English, short for amenden — more at amend
First Known Use
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Phrases Containing mend
Kids Definition
mend 1 of 2
verb
ˈmend
mended; mending
1
: improve, correct
I suggest you mend your ways.
2
: to put into good shape or working order again
Can you mend a torn sleeve?
3
: to improve in health : heal
Your injury will soon mend.
mend
2 of 2noun
: a place where something has been fixed so that it is usable again You can't even see the mend in his pants.
Medical Definition
mend 1 of 2
transitive verb
ˈmend
: to restore to health : cure
time will mend the broken bone
intransitive verb
: to improve in health
also : heal
mend
2 of 2noun
: an act of mending or repair
mend
verb
1
as in to repair
to put into good shape or working order again that shirt will be as good as new when I'm finished mending it Synonyms & Similar Words
Relevance
- repair
- fix
- rebuild
- reconstruct
- restore
- patch
- renovate
- overhaul
- recondition
- adjust
- revamp
- heal
- doctor
- renew
- help
- modify
- improve
- refurbish
- aid
- maintain
- revive
- regenerate
- refresh
- prepare
- furbish
- ready
- cure
- condition
- rectify
- rejuvenate
- fix up
- revitalize
- service
- freshen
- better
- redress
- right
- reform
- ameliorate
- correct
- enhance
- enrich
- refreshen
- meliorate
- care (for)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hurt
- break
- injure
- ruin
- harm
- damage
- wreck
- impair
- spoil
- mar
- flaw
- deface
- disfigure
- cripple
- mutilate
- vandalize
- blemish
- disable
- mangle
- maim
2
as in to recover
to become healthy and strong again after illness or weakness she's mending after a particularly nasty bout of the flu Synonyms & Similar Words
- recover
- heal
- improve
- recuperate
- convalesce
- come back
- recoup
- snap back
- rally
- gain
- pull round
- revive
- survive
- come to
- come around
- come round
- pull through
- recruit
- pick up
- perk (up)
- cheer (up)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- ail
- weaken
- fail
- sicken
- deteriorate
- worsen
- collapse
- languish
- wither
- waste (away)
- decline
- degenerate
- sink
- wilt
- come down
- fade
- regress
- relapse
3
as in to heal
to restore to a healthy condition mended the broken plant so that it was soon thriving again Synonyms & Similar Words
- heal
- rehabilitate
- fix
- cure
- repair
- rehab
- revive
- treat
- relieve
- alleviate
- set up
- rejuvenate
- remedy
- doctor
- medicate
- revitalize
- renew
- resuscitate
- fortify
- physic
- nurse
- attend (to)
- minister (to)
- care (for)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- hurt
- wound
- injure
- harm
- damage
- impair
- cripple
- mutilate
- disable
- weaken
- maim
- mangle
- lacerate
- afflict
- ail
- lame
- sicken
- waste
- lay up
- sap
- debilitate
- enfeeble
- enervate
4
as in to redeem
to make up for (an offense) the proverb "least said, soonest mended" should be heeded by anyone tempted to angrily blurt out things they really don't mean Synonyms & Similar Words
- redeem
- compensate
- repay
- correct
- amend
- expiate
- rectify
- make amends for
- make good for
- reimburse
- redress
- atone (for)
- remunerate
- recompense
- propitiate
5
as in to improve
to change one's behavior or character for the better everyone's written her off as a liar and a thief, but I say it's never too late to mend Synonyms & Similar Words
- improve
- behave
- better
- amend
- reform
- shape up
- regenerate
- clean up one's act
- straighten (up or out)
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- regress
- backslide
6
as in to cure
to bring about recovery from the old adage that only time can mend a broken heart Synonyms & Similar Words
- heal
- cure
- remedy
- alleviate
- relieve
- soothe
- ease
- allay
- treat
- temper
- lighten
- salve
- moderate
- diagnose
- doctor
- palliate
- assuage
- medicate
- nurse
Antonyms & Near Antonyms
- aggravate
- worsen
- misdiagnose
- overdiagnose
- underdiagnose
Synonym Chooser
Some common synonyms of mend are patch, rebuild, and repair. While all these words mean "to put into good order something that is injured, damaged, or defective," mend implies making whole or sound something broken, torn, or injured.
mended the torn dress
Although the words patch and mend have much in common, patch implies an often temporary fixing of a hole or break with new material.
patch worn jeans
The words rebuild and mend are synonyms, but do differ in nuance. Specifically, rebuild suggests making like new without completely replacing.
a rebuilt automobile engine
The words repair and mend can be used in similar contexts, but repair applies to the fixing of more extensive damage or dilapidation.
repaired the back steps
- free-elec
- free-electron laser
- free-fall
- free-falling
- free-falls
- free-fell
- free-fire zone
- free-floating
- free-flowing
- free-for-all
- free-for-alls
- free-form
- free-in-county
- free-liver
- free-living
- free-minded
- free-range
- free-ranging
- free-soil
- free-soiler
- free-soilism
- free-solo
- free-soloed
- free-soloes
- free-soloing