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

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

Soon after, her parents moved to another state, leaving Clark to fend for herself. —Autumn Barnes, NPR, 13 Oct. 2025

The footage showcases William Franklyn-Mille in the role of Washington, fighting through intense battles in the French and Indian War and fending for himself in tense military meetings. —J. Kim Murphy, Variety, 13 Oct. 2025

Noun

Zach Edey finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds and Braden Smith made two free throws with 3.9 seconds left to help No. 3 Purdue fend off Maryland’s furious second-half charge for a 58-55 victory. —Michael Marot, Baltimore Sun, 22 Jan. 2023

The party is trying to protect a razor-thin majority in the Senate and fend of GOP advances in the House of Representatives. —Ovetta Wiggins, Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2022

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