amend

verb \ ə-ˈmend \

|Updated on: 16 Aug 2018

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Examples: amend in a Sentence

Editor's Note: amend vs. emend

Definition of amend

amended; amending; amends

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

—

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

Atkins amended Page’s compromise to include the creation of a commission to investigate the land-grant system.

— johnforristerross, Longreads, "Taming the Great American Desert," 2 July 2018
In the wake of Turner's conviction, the state of California amended the loophole that allowed Persky to sentence him to only six months and the recall efforts began.

— refinery29.com, "California Voters Recall Judge Who Handed 6-Month Sentence To Brock Turner," 6 June 2018
Sessions agreed to amend the situation by planting 100 new trees per year in the park and 300 trees per year elsewhere on public lands around the city.

— brittany martin, Los Angeles Magazine, "The History of Those Beautiful Jacaranda Trees in Bloom Around L.A.," 15 May 2018
The district instead will make sound decisions based on the information officials have at hand and, if necessary, the board can amend the budget later.

— suzanne baker, Naperville Sun, "District 204 budget includes more money from state," 3 Apr. 2018
Kushner has had interim security clearance since Trump was elected, but has had to amend his security clearance questionnaire multiple times after making a number of omissions.

— Essence.com, "Trump's Son-In-Law And Senior Advisor Jared Kushner Loses Top-Level Security Clearance," 28 Feb. 2018
The law's January 2020 implementation date gives critics ample opportunity to amend it.

— derek hawkins, Washington Post, "The Cybersecurity 202: Big tech is going after California's new privacy law," 3 July 2018
Eyman’s attorney, Joel Ard, told justices that both I-940 and the separate bill amending it need to be presented to the voters this November.

— rachel la corte, The Seattle Times, "Court weighs lawmakers’ change to deadly force measure," 29 June 2018
Both bills have been substantially amended in recent weeks on the advice of a parliamentary committee that scrutinized them, narrowing their focus and reach and increasing the number of organizations that are exempt.

— rod mcguirk, The Christian Science Monitor, "Australia approves bill to make foreign influence on politics more transparent," 26 June 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

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

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

—

amendable

adjective

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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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amend

Definition of amend

amendable

amender

Examples of amend in a Sentence

Recent Examples of amend from the Web

amend vs. emend

Origin and Etymology of amend

amend Synonyms

Synonyms

Antonyms

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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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