mend

verb

\ˈmend

mended; mending; mends

Definition of mend

(Entry 1 of 2)

transitive verb

1 : to free from faults or defects: such as

a : to improve in manners or morals : reform was advised to mend his ways

b : to set right : correct mend a corrupt text

c : to put into good shape or working order again : patch up : repair the roads were never mended— Ellen Glasgow

d : to improve or strengthen (something, such as a relationship) by negotiation or conciliation —used chiefly in the phrase mend fences spends the weekend mending political fences— E. O. Hauser

e : to restore to health : cure before the bone was fully mended — Current Biography

2 : to make amends or atonement for least said, soonest mended

intransitive verb

1 : to improve morally : reform It's never too late to mend.

2 : to become corrected or improved depression and lack of spirit mended visibly— Arnold Nicholson

3 : to improve in health also : heal his injury mended rather quickly

mend

noun

Definition of mend (Entry 2 of 2)

1 : an act of mending : repair

2 : a mended place

on the mend

: getting better : improving

Other Words from mend Synonyms Choose the Right Synonym More Example Sentences Learn More about mend

Keep scrolling for more

Choose the Right Synonym for mend

Verb

mend, repair, patch, rebuild mean to put into good order something that is injured, damaged, or defective. mend implies making whole or sound something broken, torn, or injured. mended the torn dress repair applies to the fixing of more extensive damage or dilapidation. repaired the back steps patch implies an often temporary fixing of a hole or break with new material. patch worn jeans rebuild suggests making like new without completely replacing. a rebuilt automobile engine

Verb

mend, patch, repair mean to take something that has been damaged and make it usable again. mend is used for making something that has been broken or damaged once again whole or fit for use. Fishermen were mending their nets. patch is used for mending a hole or tear by using the same or similar material. Patch the hole with concrete. patch may also be used for a hurried, careless job. Just patch the roof for now. repair is used for a skillful mending of a complicated thing. The mechanic repaired our car.

Examples of mend in a Sentence

Verb

The town needs to mend these roads. Fishermen were mending their nets. Her arm mended slowly after surgery. His broken heart never completely mended.

Noun

You can hardly see the mend in the sleeve.

Recent Examples on the Web: Verb

Nordmann supervised training and ensured Patterson allowed a bruised heel to mend in March. — David Woods, Indianapolis Star, "Plymouth high jumper Nate Patterson: First, Indiana; next, the world," 14 June 2018 Smith didn’t close the door on mending fences with West, who held listening sessions for his new album this week, including in Maple Park. — William Lee, chicagotribune.com, "Rhymefest talks Kanye feud, new direction for charity," 8 June 2018 Try mending fences with your neighbors by engaging them to figure out what volume works for everyone. — Philip Galanes, New York Times, "Thanks for the Painful Reminder," 7 June 2018 Beautiful’ singer: a chance to mend fences with fellow pop icon, Pink. — Jordan Runtagh, PEOPLE.com, "Why Christina Aguilera Says She’ll Never Do 'Churning Hamster Wheel' The Voice Again," 3 May 2018 At the 2014 event, Facebook strove to mend fences with app makers who were rattled by the social network’s rapid-fire tweaks to its rules for access to user data and posting on Facebook’s News Feed. — Owen Thomas, San Francisco Chronicle, "Remember the last time Mark Zuckerberg asked us to trust him?," 21 Mar. 2018 In 2015, Quinnipiac made its first annual $750,000 voluntary payment for town services to then-Mayor Scott Jackson in an effort to help mend relations. — Alison Kuznitz, courant.com, "A Visionary Leader, President John Lahey Casts His Final Shadow On Quinnipiac University," 2 July 2018 To help mend the gap, the utility's board of directors last month began the process to secure a bond sale to finance $27 million for drainage improvements. — Beau Evans, NOLA.com, "Sewerage & Water Board consultant found 17 pumps, 2 turbines down last May," 16 Mar. 2018 With more global shipping now that ever, new technologies are emerging that can mend choke points in the process. — Mejs Hasan, WIRED, "The Ultimate Carbon-Saving Tip? Travel by Cargo Ship," 12 July 2018

Recent Examples on the Web: Noun

While the timing of the handover seems somewhat counter-intuitive -- VW is financially on the mend and has defended its status as the industry No. — Chris Reiter, Bloomberg.com, "VW’s Diess Goes From Lame Duck to Top Dog in Two Years," 11 Apr. 2018 Miller has started the last three games with Gibson on the mend and started four games this month because of a different injury. — Mike Coppinger, latimes.com, "Ducks' John Gibson is expected to return Friday," 26 Feb. 2018 With rockfish populations on the mend, its harvest quotas have been rising. — Hal Bernton, The Seattle Times, "Conservationists, West Coast bottom fishermen embrace ‘grand bargain’," 16 Apr. 2018 Two German Shepherd mix puppies with massive neck injuries are on the mend at the Sacramento SPCA after they were left outside the shelter in late February. — Emily Zentner, sacbee, "Despite traumatic start, German Shepherd puppies are on the mend at Sacramento SPCA | The Sacramento Bee," 9 Mar. 2018 Linda Hunt is on the mend after a car crash on Monday left her hospitalized. — Dave Quinn, PEOPLE.com, "NCIS: Los Angeles' Linda Hunt Recovering After 'Minor Traffic Accident'," 4 July 2018 Sarah Hyland is on the mend after a recent hospital visit. — Blake Bakkila, Health.com, "This Is What Sarah Hyland Is Doing to Recover After Her Health Scare," 25 June 2018 On the mend After missing the NFL combine skills testing due to a hamstring injury, Jordan Akins was able to participate in every pro day drill except for the 40-yard dash. — Shannon Green, OrlandoSentinel.com, "Mike Hughes opts out of running 40 at UCF Pro Day," 29 Mar. 2018 Del the Funky Homosapien took a hard fall during his set with Gorillaz at Denmark's Roskilde Festival on Saturday (July 7), but the rapper is thankfully okay and on the mend. — Hilary Hughes, Billboard, "Gorillaz Wrap Festival Set Following Del the Funky Homosapien's Stage Fall," 8 July 2018

These example sentences are selected automatically from various online news sources to reflect current usage of the word 'mend.' Views expressed in the examples do not represent the opinion of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback.