defend

verb

de·fend di-ˈfend How to pronounce defend (audio)

defended; defending; defends

transitive verb

: to drive danger or attack away from

defend the castle from invaders

b(1)

: to maintain or support in the face of argument or hostile criticism

defend a theory

couldn't defend their actions

(2)

: to prove (something, such as a doctoral thesis or dissertation) valid by answering questions in an oral exam

preparing to defend her thesis

sports : to attempt to prevent an opponent from scoring at

elects to defend the south goal

archaic : prevent, forbid

which God defend that I should wring from him

Shakespeare

: to act as attorney for

hired a lawyer to defend their son

law : to deny or oppose the right of a plaintiff in regard to (a suit or a wrong charged) : contest

: to retain or seek to retain (something, such as a title or position) against a challenge in a contest

they successfully defended their championship

intransitive verb

: to take action against attack or challenge

the defending champion

sports : to play or be on defense

playing deep to defend against a pass

card games : to play against the high bidder

defendable

di-ˈfen-də-bəl How to pronounce defend (audio)

adjective

Example Sentences

The company must defend its own interests. We believed it was a cause worth defending. She defended her friend's behavior. Stop defending him. What he did was wrong.

Recent Examples on the Web As the former president, Mr. Trump commands media attention and is able to defend himself in the court of public opinion in a way most people cannot.

Aruna Viswanatha, WSJ, 6 Sep. 2022 Experts say that, for its part, Taiwan needs to spend more on its own defense, balancing conventional forces needed to deter a Chinese invasion with small, maneuverable forces able to survive an onslaught and defend the island in the longer term.

Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Aug. 2022 Kaul also questioned whether Toney would defend the 2024 election results in court if Trump runs again and loses Wisconsin.

Todd Richmond, ajc, 26 Aug. 2022 Flanagan posted a time of 32 minutes, 25 seconds on Sunday to once again hold off Simbassa — this time by seven seconds — and defend his crown in the 50th edition of the race, which hosted 10,000 competitors from around the world.

Brad Joyal, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Aug. 2022 Seeking to defend their title in the tournament, the Portland Thorns host C.F. Monterrey on Wednesday night in the semifinal round of the Women’s International Champions Cup (WICC).

oregonlive, 17 Aug. 2022 These officials downplayed the prospect that a Russian land grab would mark a significant turning point and exuded confidence that plans to continue helping Ukraine defend itself in the long term will enable Zelensky to achieve his objectives.

Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2022 That’s important because since Russia invaded Ukraine, confidence in Washington’s willingness to send troops to defend Taiwan in an invasion scenario has waned.

Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2022 Biden and other White House officials have attempted to defend his electability in recent weeks, however.

Isabella Murray, ABC News, 29 July 2022 See More

Word History

Etymology

Middle English defenden, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French defendre, defender, going back to Latin dēfendere "to ward off, fend off, repel danger from, protect," from dē- de- + -fendere, presumably, "to strike, hit" (unattested without prefixes), going back to Indo-European *g^when-d^h-, extended determinate form of *g^when-, *g^whn- "strike, kill," whence Hittite kuenzi "(s/he) kills," kunanzi "(they) kill," Sanskrit hánti "(s/he) strikes, kills," ghnánti "(they) strike, kill," Greek theínein "to strike," épethnon "(I) killed," Old Irish gonaid "(s/he) pierces, wounds, kills," Welsh gwan- "stab, pierce," Lithuanian genù, giñti "to drive (cattle, etc.)," Old Church Slavic ženǫ, gŭnati "to drive, chase out, expel"; also, from nominal derivative *g^whon-, Greek phónos "bloodshed, murder," and from *g^whń̥-tih₂, Germanic *gunþī, *gunþjō, whence Old English gūþ "battle, combat," Old Saxon gūđea, Old High German gund-, Old Norse gunnr, guðr

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a

Kids Definition

defend

verb

de·fend di-ˈfend How to pronounce defend (audio)

defended; defending

: to protect from danger or attack

: to act or speak in favor of when others are opposed She defended her teacher against the class's complaints.

Legal Definition

defend

transitive verb

de·fend

: to drive danger or attack away from

using a weapon to defend oneself

: to act as attorney for (a defendant)

appointed to defend the accused

: to deny or oppose the rights of a plaintiff in regard to (a suit or claim)

intend to defend the case

intransitive verb

: to take action against attack or challenge

not justified in striking first, but may defend

: to present a defense

may not thereafter defend on grounds of insanity

W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr.

单词	defends
释义	defend verb de·fend di-ˈfend defended; defending; defends transitive verb 1 a : to drive danger or attack away from defend the castle from invaders b(1) : to maintain or support in the face of argument or hostile criticism defend a theory couldn't defend their actions (2) : to prove (something, such as a doctoral thesis or dissertation) valid by answering questions in an oral exam preparing to defend her thesis c sports : to attempt to prevent an opponent from scoring at elects to defend the south goal 2 archaic : prevent, forbid which God defend that I should wring from him Shakespeare 3 : to act as attorney for hired a lawyer to defend their son 4 law : to deny or oppose the right of a plaintiff in regard to (a suit or a wrong charged) : contest 5 : to retain or seek to retain (something, such as a title or position) against a challenge in a contest they successfully defended their championship intransitive verb 1 : to take action against attack or challenge the defending champion 2 sports : to play or be on defense playing deep to defend against a pass 3 card games : to play against the high bidder defendable di-ˈfen-də-bəl adjective Synonyms bulwark cover fence fend forfend guard keep protect safeguard screen secure shield ward See all Synonyms & Antonyms Example Sentences The company must defend its own interests. We believed it was a cause worth defending. She defended her friend's behavior. Stop defending him. What he did was wrong. Recent Examples on the Web As the former president, Mr. Trump commands media attention and is able to defend himself in the court of public opinion in a way most people cannot. Aruna Viswanatha, WSJ, 6 Sep. 2022 Experts say that, for its part, Taiwan needs to spend more on its own defense, balancing conventional forces needed to deter a Chinese invasion with small, maneuverable forces able to survive an onslaught and defend the island in the longer term. Ann Scott Tyson, The Christian Science Monitor, 26 Aug. 2022 Kaul also questioned whether Toney would defend the 2024 election results in court if Trump runs again and loses Wisconsin. Todd Richmond, ajc, 26 Aug. 2022 Flanagan posted a time of 32 minutes, 25 seconds on Sunday to once again hold off Simbassa — this time by seven seconds — and defend his crown in the 50th edition of the race, which hosted 10,000 competitors from around the world. Brad Joyal, BostonGlobe.com, 21 Aug. 2022 Seeking to defend their title in the tournament, the Portland Thorns host C.F. Monterrey on Wednesday night in the semifinal round of the Women’s International Champions Cup (WICC). oregonlive, 17 Aug. 2022 These officials downplayed the prospect that a Russian land grab would mark a significant turning point and exuded confidence that plans to continue helping Ukraine defend itself in the long term will enable Zelensky to achieve his objectives. Michael Birnbaum, Washington Post, 4 Aug. 2022 That’s important because since Russia invaded Ukraine, confidence in Washington’s willingness to send troops to defend Taiwan in an invasion scenario has waned. Stephanie Yang, Los Angeles Times, 30 July 2022 Biden and other White House officials have attempted to defend his electability in recent weeks, however. Isabella Murray, ABC News, 29 July 2022 See More Word History Etymology Middle English defenden, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French defendre, defender, going back to Latin dēfendere "to ward off, fend off, repel danger from, protect," from dē- de- + -fendere, presumably, "to strike, hit" (unattested without prefixes), going back to Indo-European g^when-d^h-, extended determinate form of g^when-, g^whn- "strike, kill," whence Hittite kuenzi* "(s/he) kills," kunanzi "(they) kill," Sanskrit hánti "(s/he) strikes, kills," ghnánti "(they) strike, kill," Greek theínein "to strike," épethnon "(I) killed," Old Irish gonaid "(s/he) pierces, wounds, kills," Welsh gwan- "stab, pierce," Lithuanian genù, giñti "to drive (cattle, etc.)," Old Church Slavic ženǫ, gŭnati "to drive, chase out, expel"; also, from nominal derivative g^whon-, Greek phónos* "bloodshed, murder," and from g^whń̥-tih₂, Germanic gunþī, gunþjō, whence Old English gūþ* "battle, combat," Old Saxon gūđea, Old High German gund-, Old Norse gunnr, guðr First Known Use 14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1a Kids Definition defend verb de·fend di-ˈfend defended; defending 1 : to protect from danger or attack 2 : to act or speak in favor of when others are opposed She defended her teacher against the class's complaints. Choose the Right Synonym for defend defend, protect, and safeguard mean to keep safe. defend is used for a danger or an attack that is actual or threatening. The soldiers defended the fort against enemy troops. protect is used when some kind of shield can prevent possible attack or injury. Protect your eyes with dark glasses. safeguard is used when a course of action can protect against a possible danger. The health rules help safeguard the students from disease. Legal Definition defend transitive verb de·fend 1 : to drive danger or attack away from using a weapon to defend oneself 2 : to act as attorney for (a defendant) appointed to defend the accused 3 : to deny or oppose the rights of a plaintiff in regard to (a suit or claim) intend to defend the case intransitive verb 1 : to take action against attack or challenge not justified in striking first, but may defend 2 : to present a defense may not thereafter defend on grounds of insanity W. R. LaFave and A. W. Scott, Jr. defends verb present tense third-person singular of defend 1 as in protects to drive danger or attack away from a solemn oath to defend the mother country at any cost Synonyms & Similar Words Relevance protects safeguards guards shields fends secures keeps prevents opposes fences bulwarks saves wards covers resists forfends preserves withstands conserves screens contends stands up for averts fights wars battles walls palisades buffers pickets Antonyms & Near Antonyms assails attacks bombards submits besieges assaults overruns storms capitulates yields besets caves See More 2 as in justifies to continue to declare to be true or proper despite opposition or objections she will pigheadedly defend any claim regardless of all evidence to the contrary Synonyms & Similar Words justifies upholds maintains supports asserts affirms advocates proclaims discusses confirms insists vindicates espouses pleads argues sticks up for contends emphasizes professes stands up for champions claims avows avers states underlines protests warrants underscores stresses debates avouches Antonyms & Near Antonyms abandons withdraws retracts forsakes reverses refutes abjures takes back switches recants rebuts disproves controverts See More
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defend

verb

Synonyms

Example Sentences

Word History

Kids Definition

verb

Choose the Right Synonym for defend

Legal Definition

transitive verb

verb