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

mend

2 of 2

noun

1

: an act of mending : repair

2

: a mended place

can't even see the mend on the sleeve

Phrases

on the mend

: getting better : improving

Her broken leg is on the mend.

The economy is on the mend.

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.

Noun

You can hardly see the mend in the sleeve.

Recent Examples on the Web

Verb

Its distressed jackets and patchwork dresses, each hand-mended and one-of-a-kind, are not fashioned for mass production but for permanence. —Maria Williams, USA Today, 4 Nov. 2025

Some Aquarians might be finalizing a move, mending family dynamics, or finally releasing emotional weight that’s been stored deep in the body. —Dossé-Via Trenou, Refinery29, 2 Nov. 2025

Noun

Oddly enough, Mayfield has not skipped a beat with the multitude of stars on the mend. —James Brizuela, MSNBC Newsweek, 20 Oct. 2025

Walsh on the mend After sitting out the last two games with an adductor injury, third-year wing Jordan Walsh practiced Tuesday and earned a positive review from Mazzulla. —Zack Cox, Boston Herald, 14 Oct. 2025

Word History

Etymology

Verb

Middle English, short for amenden — more at amend

First Known Use

Verb

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

Noun

14th century, in the meaning defined at 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