amend

play

verb \ ə-ˈmend \

Definition of amend

transitive verb

1 :to put right; especially :to make emendations in (something, such as a text)

amended the manuscript

2 a :to change or modify (something) 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

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amendable

play \-ˈmen-də-bəl\ adjective

—

amender

noun

See amend defined for English-language learners

See amend defined for kids

Examples of amend in a Sentence

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

Recent Examples of amend from the Web

Despite the measures taken this week at the state level, District 204 will proceed as planned and amend the budget once school officials know exactly what the state funding will be for the district.

— suzanne baker, Naperville Sun, "After Rauner signs funding bill, Naperville-area schools may see state dollars," 29 Aug. 2017
The organizers of the service then amended their instructions and said that people should move out the side or back door of the church to avoid the torch-bearing Nazis out front.

— sarah ellison, The Hive, "Why Charlottesville, Liberal College Town, Became Ground Zero for White Supremacy," 15 Aug. 2017
Regarding the state complaint, Cranley quickly amended the reports.

— jason williams, Cincinnati.com, "PX: Mayor John Cranley's political foes strike out with complaints," 25 July 2017
Kushner has since amended those multiple times—after a visit from the FBI—to include more than 100 meetings with foreign contacts.

— jack holmes, Esquire, "A 12-Month Timeline of the Trump Team's Lies and Excuses About the Russia Meeting," 19 July 2017
Opposition parties also prepared to amend the bill, which among other things will give the government power to tweak laws without parliamentary approval and take Britain out of the EU’s human rights charter.

— simon kennedy, Bloomberg.com, "Brexit Bulletin: ‘The Biggest Brexit Day Yet’," 14 July 2017
The publishing company brought in lawyers to ask the journal Vestoj to amend the article, specifically the details around Chambers’s firing.

— sarah spellings, The Cut, "Condé Nast Brings Lawyers to Amend Fired Editor’s Tell-all," 7 July 2017
Allow States to Import Cannabidiol (CBD), a Recognized Treatment for Epilepsy and Seizure Disorders The CARERS Act amends the Controlled Substances Act to remove specific strains of CBD oil from the federal definition of marijuana.

— polly washburn, The Cannabist, "Federal bill introduced to protect medical marijuana states, provide access to veterans," 15 June 2017
The city's bee ordinance, last amended in 1991, called beekeeping a public nuisance and only allowed them to be kept securely on a person's own property.

— craig lyons, Post-Tribune, "Hammond eases beekeeping restrictions," 13 June 2017

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'amend.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.

amend vs. emend

The question of whether to use amend or emend is a vexing one for many people, complicated by the fact that the words sound quite similar and have meanings that overlap to a considerable degree. Both words can be used with the meanings “to improve” or “to correct,” but there are subtle differences. Emend is most often used in connection with changes to some form of written material, such as a text or manuscript; while such documents may also be described as amended, amend can apply to improvements or corrections made to things other than writing, as in “he amended his behavior.” The confusion is compounded by the fact that one of the most frequently encountered uses of amend is in reference to a document: the Constitution of the United States.

Origin and Etymology 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

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First Known Use: 13th century

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amend Synonyms

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

Synonym Discussion of amend

correct, rectify, emend, remedy, redress, amend, reform, revise mean to make right what is wrong. correct implies taking action to remove errors, faults, deviations, defects.

- correct your spelling

rectify implies a more essential changing to make something right, just, or properly controlled or directed.

- rectify a misguided policy

emend specifically implies correction of a text or manuscript.

- emend a text

remedy implies removing or making harmless a cause of trouble, harm, or evil.

- set out to remedy the evils of the world

redress implies making compensation or reparation for an unfairness, injustice, or imbalance.

- redress past social injustices

amend, reform, revise imply an improving by making corrective changes, amend usually suggesting slight changes

- amend a law

, reform implying drastic change

- plans to reform the court system

, and revise suggesting a careful examination of something and the making of necessary changes.

- revise the schedule

AMEND Defined for English Language Learners

amend

play

verb

Definition of amend for English Language Learners

: to change some of the words and often the meaning of (a law, document, etc.)
: to change and improve (something, such as a mistake or bad situation)

AMEND Defined for Kids

amend

play

verb \ ə-ˈmend \

Definition of amend for Students

amended; amending

1 :to change for the better :improve

He tried to amend the situation by apologizing.

2 :to change the wording or meaning of :alter

Congress voted to amend the law.

Law Dictionary

amend

transitive verb

legal Definition of amend

1 :to change or modify for the better

2 :to alter especially in the wording; especially :to alter formally by modification, deletion, or addition

amended the statute

amend the complaint to cure the defect

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amendable

adjective

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AMEND Defined for English Language Learners

amend

Definition of amend for English Language Learners

AMEND Defined for Kids

amend

Definition of amend for Students

Law Dictionary

amend

legal Definition of amend

amendable

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