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

Newcomers like Mansfield Summit and Mansfield Legacy could also contend for district titles. —Charles Baggarly, Fort Worth Star-Telegram, 30 Jan. 2026

The lawsuit also contends that police failed to make any arrests or seek a risk warrant to seize Mollow’s firearms. —Justin Muszynski, Hartford Courant, 30 Jan. 2026

Tweaking those systems to account for new rules, Waymo officials contend, is comparatively easy. —Billy Perrigo, Time, 30 Jan. 2026

Noting that the advocates are not seeking to end irrigated agriculture, McManus contended that recent salmon rebounds followed wetter years with more water in rivers, not habitat projects. —Chaewon Chung updated January 30, Sacbee.com, 30 Jan. 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