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

• 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

The Boston Celtics certainly aren't expected to contend for a championship this season, marking the first time that the Celtics aren't pushing for a title in nearly a decade. —Matthew Schmidt, MSNBC Newsweek, 24 Oct. 2025

West Virginia is in the process of a rebuild, while TCU entered the season expecting to contend. —Steven Johnson, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 24 Oct. 2025

Critics, meanwhile, contend the president bypassed the proper review process. —Brendan Rascius, Miami Herald, 23 Oct. 2025

And despite some waving the red flag of a white-collar jobs armageddon, others contend that the shift will be just like any other technological change in the past—and something to embrace sooner rather than later. —Emma Burleigh, Fortune, 23 Oct. 2025

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