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

With better lettering, this design would contend for the top spot. —Johnny Flores Jr, New York Times, 6 Mar. 2026

Beyond that, John — and, to an extent, M — contend the illicit nature of an affair between professor and student is part of the allure. —Ben Travers, IndieWire, 5 Mar. 2026

The attorneys general also contend that the tariffs violate the Constitution’s separation-of-powers principle giving Congress the power to impose duties, and that Trump’s levies violate the 1974 trade act’s requirements that they be applied consistently across countries. —Hugh Son, CNBC, 5 Mar. 2026

Other supporters contended in their comments that CPW’s data — including population estimates of furbearer species — was lacking. —Dac Collins, Outdoor Life, 5 Mar. 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