mend

1 of 2

verb

ˈmend 

mended; mending; mends

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

—often used 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

mendable

ˈmen-də-bəl 

adjective

mender noun

mender

2 of 2

noun

mend·​er

ˈmendə(r)

plural -s

: one that mends or is used for mending

specifically : a person whose work is mending for the purpose of repairing torn, worn, or defective parts (as of garments, textiles, parachutes, hats, straw goods, fishing nets)

Synonyms of mend

Verb

• repair
• fix
• rebuild
• reconstruct

Choose the Right Synonym for mend

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

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.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

The third time, he was gone for good, spending a week with his parents to begin to mend his fractured family, and then heading across country to Los Angeles, where his friend and fellow model Fabio Lanzoni – yes, that Fabio – gave him safe harbor. —Peter Larsen, Daily News, 2 June 2026

Lexi passes on the opportunity to work at the OnlyFans house, but at least her relationship with her sister is mended. —Rafaela Bassili, Vulture, 1 June 2026

Is the silver lining of all of this that exes Carl Radke and Lindsay have mended, and are friends again? —Jackie Strause, HollywoodReporter, 28 May 2026

Kate Middleton refused to stop trying to mend Prince William and Prince Harry’s strained relationship, but the Duke of Sussex’s remarks about King Charles’ mortality became the breaking point. —Stephanie Nolasco, FOXNews.com, 27 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, short for amenden — more at amend

Noun

Middle English, from menden to mend + -er

First Known Use

Verb

13th century, in the meaning defined at transitive sense 1

Phrases Containing mend

• mend fences
• mend one's fences
• mend one's ways
• on the mend

Rhymes for mend

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

Kids Definition

mend

1 of 2 verb

ˈmend 

1

: to improve in manners or morals : reform

2

: to put into good shape or working order again

3

: to improve in health

also : heal

mendable

ˈmen-də-bəl 

adjective

mender noun

mend

2 of 2 noun

1

: an act of mending : repair

2

: a mended place

Medical Definition

mend

1 of 2 transitive verb

ˈmend 

: to restore to health : cure

time will mend the broken bone

intransitive verb

: to improve in health

also : heal

mend

2 of 2 noun

: an act of mending or repair