fend

1 of 2

verb

ˈfend 

fended; fending; fends

transitive verb

1

: defend

2

: to keep or ward off : repel

—often used with off

fend off an invader

3

dialectal British : to provide for : support

intransitive verb

1

dialectal British : to make an effort : struggle

2

a

: to try to get along without help : shift

had to fend for themselves

b

: to provide a livelihood

fend

2 of 2

noun

chiefly Scotland

: an effort or attempt especially for oneself

Synonyms of fend

Verb

• protect
• defend
• safeguard
• shield
• guard

Examples of fend in a Sentence

Verb

learned to use humor to fend herself from criticism

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

After being registered upon arrival, many deportees were left to fend for themselves, and did not know what to do or where to go next. — Jacqueline Charles, Miami Herald, 22 Sep. 2026

Neither was capable of providing for citizens made desperate by endless war and endemic poverty, who were often left to fend for themselves. — Kareem Fahim, New Yorker, 19 Sep. 2026

Noun

Other leaders may overreact or take a ‘fend for yourself’ approach. — Kate Wieczorek, Forbes.com, 25 May 2026

But the thought of letting this poor kitten fend for itself was beyond comprehension. — Alyce Collins, MSNBC Newsweek, 5 Nov. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English fenden, short for defenden "to defend"

First Known Use

Verb

14th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Noun

1721, in the meaning defined above

Phrases Containing fend

• fend for oneself
• fend off

Rhymes for fend

• blend
• blende
• denned
• end
• friend
• lend
• mend
• penned
• send
• spend
• tend
• trend

Kids Definition

fend

verb

ˈfend

1

: to keep or ward off : repel sense 1

fend off an attack

2

: to try to get along without help

had to fend for themselves