amend

amend

verb \ə-ˈmend\

Definition of AMEND

transitive verb

1

: to put right; especially : to make emendations in (as a text)

2

a : to change or modify for the better : improve <amend the situation>

b : to alter especially in phraseology; especially : to alter formally by modification, deletion, or addition <amend a constitution>

intransitive verb

: to reform oneself

— amend·able \-ˈmen-də-bəl\ adjective

— amend·er noun

Examples of AMEND

1. The country's constitution was amended to allow women to vote.
2. They voted to amend the law in 1920.
3. He tried to amend the situation by apologizing to me.

Origin of AMEND

Middle English, from Anglo-French amender, modification of Latin emendare, from e, ex out + menda fault; akin to Latin mendax lying, mendicus beggar, and perhaps to Sanskrit mindā physical defect

First Known Use: 13th century

Related to AMEND

Synonyms

ameliorate, improve, better, enhance, enrich, help, meliorate, perfect, refine, upgrade

Antonyms

worsen

Related Words

correct, emend, rectify, reform, remediate, remedy; edit, fine-tune, redraft, refurbish, rehab, rehabilitate, revamp, revise, rework; beef (up), boost, fortify, intensify, reinforce (also reenforce), strengthen; fine, hone, polish; retouch, touch up

Near Antonyms

damage, endamage, harm, hurt, impair, injure, spoil, tarnish, vitiate; blemish, blight, deface, disfigure, flaw, mar; diminish, lessen, lower, reduce

See Synonym Discussion at correct

Rhymes with AMEND

addend, append, ascend, attend, bartend, befriend, Big Bend, bookend, boyfriend, closed-end, commend, compend, contend, dead end, dead-end, defend, depend, descend, distend, downtrend, emend, expend, extend, fag end, forfend, front-end, girlfriend, Gravesend, headend, high-end, hornblende, impend, intend, Land's End, loose end, low-end, missend, misspend, next friend, no end, offend, on end, Ostend, outspend, perpend, pitchblende, portend, pretend, propend, protend, rear-end, resend, sheet bend, South Bend, split end, stipend, subtend, suspend, tag end, tail end, tight end, top-end, transcend, unbend, unkenned, upend, uptrend, weekend, year-end