mended; mending; mends
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
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. O. Hauser
e
: to restore to health : cure
before the bone was fully mended—Current Biography
Current Biography2
: to make amends or atonement for
least said, soonest mended
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
Arnold Nicholson3
: to improve in health
mender
noun
Synonyms
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 WebJoelle Goldstein, Peoplemag, 9 Nov. 2023
The approach was inspired by the Black Panthers and sought to mend the divisions engendered by gang life.
—Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2023
As a result, Washington’s Arab allies began to rethink the region’s security architecture, strengthening outreach to China, for example, and more recently mending ties with longtime adversary Iran.
—Hannah Allam, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2023
The deceleration comes at a time when the world has yet to fully mend from a devastating but short-lived COVID-19 recession in 2020 and now could see fallout from the Middle East conflict — particularly to oil prices.
—Time, 10 Oct. 2023
Family will break your heart and bruise your heart and mend your heart like no one else can — not always in that order, and sometimes all three at once.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 9 Oct. 2023
For the first time, scientists have observed solid metal mending its own cracks without human intervention, defying fundamental theories of materials science.
—Lucy Tu, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2023
Washing thousands of loads of laundry, ironing, mending, sewing clothes and underwear.
—Sheila McCann, The Salt Lake Tribune, 4 Sep. 2023
If so, this Fisher-Price Medical Playset has everything needed to equip your mini-medic with the necessary tools to mend their patients.
—Samantha McIntyre, Parents, 24 Oct. 2023
Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 23 Oct. 2023
Sophia Loren is on the mend after undergoing surgery.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 26 Sep. 2023
Liam Payne is out of the hospital and on the mend, his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy shared on Tuesday (Sept. 19).
—Anna Chan, Billboard, 20 Sep. 2023
Baylor 20-13, No. 12 Utah has now won two non-conference games against Power Five competition without starting quarterback Cam Rising, who is still on the mend after last year's knee injury.
—Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2023
Is Meredith Marks and Lisa Barlow's friendship on the mend?
During Tuesday's season 4 premiere episode of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, viewers saw Marks and Barlow make plans to work on their strained friendship.
—Maggie Kreienberg, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2023
The 65-year-old diva is on the mend following a bacterial infection that kept her in hospital for several days and forced back her touring schedule.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 31 Aug. 2023
Elton John, 76, is on the mend after falling at his home in the south of France over the weekend.
—Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY, 29 Aug. 2023
Inflation was muted, unemployment elevated and economic growth on the mend.
—Sarah Chaney Cambon, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2023
See More
Verb
In a preview for next week's episode of The Kardashians, Tristan, 32, appears to be taking steps to mend his relationships with Kourtney and Kylie Jenner after cheating on Khloé multiple times.
—Joelle Goldstein, Peoplemag, 9 Nov. 2023
The approach was inspired by the Black Panthers and sought to mend the divisions engendered by gang life.
—Hua Hsu, The New Yorker, 23 Oct. 2023
As a result, Washington’s Arab allies began to rethink the region’s security architecture, strengthening outreach to China, for example, and more recently mending ties with longtime adversary Iran.
—Hannah Allam, Washington Post, 25 Oct. 2023
The deceleration comes at a time when the world has yet to fully mend from a devastating but short-lived COVID-19 recession in 2020 and now could see fallout from the Middle East conflict — particularly to oil prices.
—Time, 10 Oct. 2023
Family will break your heart and bruise your heart and mend your heart like no one else can — not always in that order, and sometimes all three at once.
—Jessica Kiang, Variety, 9 Oct. 2023
For the first time, scientists have observed solid metal mending its own cracks without human intervention, defying fundamental theories of materials science.
—Lucy Tu, Scientific American, 1 Oct. 2023
Washing thousands of loads of laundry, ironing, mending, sewing clothes and underwear.
—Sheila McCann, The Salt Lake Tribune, 4 Sep. 2023
If so, this Fisher-Price Medical Playset has everything needed to equip your mini-medic with the necessary tools to mend their patients.
—Samantha McIntyre, Parents, 24 Oct. 2023
Noun
Following her latest ordeal, Stella is already on the mend and has regained 11 pounds since her return.
—Erin Clack, Peoplemag, 23 Oct. 2023
Sophia Loren is on the mend after undergoing surgery.
—Benjamin Vanhoose, Peoplemag, 26 Sep. 2023
Liam Payne is out of the hospital and on the mend, his girlfriend, Kate Cassidy shared on Tuesday (Sept. 19).
—Anna Chan, Billboard, 20 Sep. 2023
Baylor 20-13, No. 12 Utah has now won two non-conference games against Power Five competition without starting quarterback Cam Rising, who is still on the mend after last year's knee injury.
—Paul Myerberg, USA TODAY, 10 Sep. 2023
Is Meredith Marks and Lisa Barlow's friendship on the mend?
During Tuesday's season 4 premiere episode of The Real Housewives of Salt Lake City, viewers saw Marks and Barlow make plans to work on their strained friendship.
—Maggie Kreienberg, Peoplemag, 6 Sep. 2023
The 65-year-old diva is on the mend following a bacterial infection that kept her in hospital for several days and forced back her touring schedule.
—Lars Brandle, Billboard, 31 Aug. 2023
Elton John, 76, is on the mend after falling at his home in the south of France over the weekend.
—Laura L. Davis, USA TODAY, 29 Aug. 2023
Inflation was muted, unemployment elevated and economic growth on the mend.
—Sarah Chaney Cambon, WSJ, 24 Aug. 2023
See More
These examples are programmatically compiled from various online sources to illustrate current usage of the word 'mend.' Any opinions expressed in the examples do not represent those of Merriam-Webster or its editors. Send us feedback about these examples.
Word History
First Known Use
Verb
13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1
Noun
14th century, in the meaning defined at sense 1
Time Traveler
The first known use of mend was
in the 13th century
Phrases Containing mend
Dictionary Entries Near mend
Cite this Entry
“Mend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mend. Accessed 1 Dec. 2023.
Copy Citation
Kids Definition
More from Merriam-Webster on mend
Nglish: Translation of mend for Spanish Speakers
Britannica English: Translation of mend for Arabic Speakers
Love words? Need even more definitions?
Merriam-Webster unabridged
Share