amend

verb \ ə-ˈmend \

Updated on: 10 May 2018

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

By taking the ballot proposal up in the Legislature, lawmakers could amend it with a simple majority.

— kathleen gray, Detroit Free Press, "GOP lawmakers contemplate tying marijuana legalization to income tax cut," 4 May 2018
And in 2016 the ECJ ruled against a British investigatory-powers law, forcing the government to amend it.

— The Economist, "A row over data privacy may upset Britain’s security relations with the EU," 3 May 2018
Their original plan included an all-day walkout, but was amended by an agreement between the students and school administrators.

— ken house, Courant Community, "Newington Students Participate In Walkout," 1 May 2018
Lara gutted an unrelated bill and amended it with new language on appointments.

— taryn luna, sacbee, "Undocumented immigrants could serve on California boards under new bill | The Sacramento Bee," 30 Apr. 2018
The legislation was amended Tuesday to indicate that the county executive, through the department's director, would investigate complaints and the county would file any legal actions.

— karen farkas, cleveland.com, "Cuyahoga County's Consumer Affairs Department gets enforcement powers," 24 Apr. 2018
There will be some negotiation on how the bill will be amended, with Wiener attempting to avoid amendments that weaken the potential net neutrality law.

— jon brodkin, Ars Technica, "AT&T and cable lobby are terrified of a California net neutrality bill," 16 Apr. 2018
No information was available about how the plan was amended.

— daniel victor, BostonGlobe.com, "National Park Service Reconsiders Steep Fee Increase After Backlash," 6 Apr. 2018
Commissioner Brecht Heuchan, chairman of the committee, said two measures were left as separate proposals because they may be amended.

— Sun-Sentinel.com, "Offshore drilling combined with vaping in ballot measure proposal," 5 Apr. 2018

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

NEW! Time Traveler

First Known Use: 13th century

in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

See Words from the same year

amend Synonyms

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

verb

: 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

verb \ ə-ˈmend \

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

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

Learn More about amend

See words that rhyme with amend Thesaurus: All synonyms and antonyms for amend Spanish Central: Translation of amend Nglish: Translation of amend for Spanish speakers Britannica English: Translation of amend for Arabic speakers

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Examples of amend in a Sentence

Recent Examples of amend from the Web

amend vs. emend

Origin and Etymology of amend

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AMEND Defined for English Language Learners

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