contend

verb

con·​tend kən-ˈtend 

contended; contending; contends

intransitive verb

1

: to strive or vie in contest or rivalry or against difficulties : struggle

contended with the problems of municipal government

will contend for the championship this year

2

: to strive in debate : argue

transitive verb

1

: maintain, assert

contended that he was right

contends that the new law would help only the wealthy

2

: to struggle for : contest

She contended every point, objected to every request …

—Margaret Mead

Synonyms of contend

• compete

Examples of contend in a Sentence

These people contend that they have earned the right to the land.

The team is expected to contend for the championship this year.

Recent Examples on the Web

Though Dobbins should return before the season, with his injury history, Coleman could play a huge role for a team contending for the Super Bowl. — Ted Nguyen, New York Times, 18 Aug. 2026

Relatedly, Wrigley View Rooftop contends there is no legal support for the proposition that the Cubs gain a property right merely because the two businesses might be competing for people willing to pay to watch Cubs games. — Michael McCann, Sportico.com, 17 Aug. 2026

Honeywell will now try to craft some similar moments with a contending Padres team. — Peter Chawaga, Forbes.com, 17 Aug. 2026

The Red Sox, who’d won a wild card in an up-and-down season last year, had come out of spring training expected to contend for a playoff spot, but by the time Cora was fired the team had dropped seven games below five hundred. — Louisa Thomas, New Yorker, 16 Aug. 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English contenden, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French contendre, going back to Latin contendere "to draw tight, strain, make an effort, strive, compete," from con- con- + tendere "to extend outward, stretch, spread out, aim (at a purpose)" — more at tender entry 3

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing contend

• a lot to contend with
• contend with

Rhymes for contend

• amend
• append
• ascend
• attend
• backend
• befriend
• boyfriend
• commend
• compend
• defend
• depend
• descend

Kids Definition

contend

verb

con·​tend kən-ˈtend 

1

: compete

2

: to try hard to deal with

many problems to contend with

3

: to argue or state earnestly

contend that my opinion is right

contender noun