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 WebElena Moore, NPR, 12 Apr. 2024
Barash now helps others mend their relationships with food and body image at her own practice, Tap Into Nutrition.
—Audrey Richardson and Aurora Sousanis, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024
Married to musician Will Sweeny since 2021, Walsh — who also runs the Lucy Walsh Performing Arts Studio — says her relationship has helped mend her heart.
—Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024
No one can single-handedly mend the state of our nation or the world but there are always things a person can do, including and especially vote.
—Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024
There was significant local media attention given to President Xi’s meeting with US CEOs, his candor on the economy and opportunity for foreign investors/corporations, and an olive branch on mending US-China relations.
—Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Hong Kong/Taipei CNN — Chinese leader Xi Jinping met more than a dozen US CEOs and academics on Wednesday as Beijing renewed efforts to woo back foreign investors and mend strained relations with the United States.
—Laura He, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
These agents target the wounded area, mending tissues and restoring the cells’ functionality.
—Yaghoob Farnam, The Conversation, 22 Mar. 2024
Andy attempts to mend the fractured group with the fate of long-time friendships in the air.
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024
Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
The Giants’ catcher has been on the mend after taking a foul ball off his throwing hand last week, but shouldn’t be out of action much longer.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024
However, by Wednesday, the team provided an update, saying the dog was on the mend.
—CBS News, 7 Mar. 2024
The same went for their mom, who was on the mend and in good spirits.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024
Danvers is shown laughing with her once estranged stepdaughter, a relationship on the mend.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2024
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, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024
Cori Broadus, Snoop Dogg’s 24-year-old daughter, is on the mend after suffering a stroke last week.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2024
Snoop Dogg and Shanté Broadus’ daughter Cori Broadus is on the mend after experiencing a severe stroke last Thursday.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 24 Jan. 2024
Verb
When thinking about avenues to mend some of today's divisions, alums of the Sanders 2020 campaign draw back on Biden's willingness to collaborate four years ago.
—Elena Moore, NPR, 12 Apr. 2024
Barash now helps others mend their relationships with food and body image at her own practice, Tap Into Nutrition.
—Audrey Richardson and Aurora Sousanis, USA TODAY, 6 Apr. 2024
Married to musician Will Sweeny since 2021, Walsh — who also runs the Lucy Walsh Performing Arts Studio — says her relationship has helped mend her heart.
—Rachel Desantis, Peoplemag, 12 Mar. 2024
No one can single-handedly mend the state of our nation or the world but there are always things a person can do, including and especially vote.
—Mary McNamara, Los Angeles Times, 27 Feb. 2024
There was significant local media attention given to President Xi’s meeting with US CEOs, his candor on the economy and opportunity for foreign investors/corporations, and an olive branch on mending US-China relations.
—Brendan Ahern, Forbes, 28 Mar. 2024
Hong Kong/Taipei CNN — Chinese leader Xi Jinping met more than a dozen US CEOs and academics on Wednesday as Beijing renewed efforts to woo back foreign investors and mend strained relations with the United States.
—Laura He, CNN, 27 Mar. 2024
These agents target the wounded area, mending tissues and restoring the cells’ functionality.
—Yaghoob Farnam, The Conversation, 22 Mar. 2024
Andy attempts to mend the fractured group with the fate of long-time friendships in the air.
—Dave Quinn, Peoplemag, 22 Mar. 2024
Noun
The Monday statement added that Stuhlbarg is on the mend and would proceed with the play as scheduled.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 2 Apr. 2024
The Giants’ catcher has been on the mend after taking a foul ball off his throwing hand last week, but shouldn’t be out of action much longer.
—Evan Webeck, The Mercury News, 18 Mar. 2024
However, by Wednesday, the team provided an update, saying the dog was on the mend.
—CBS News, 7 Mar. 2024
The same went for their mom, who was on the mend and in good spirits.
—Hannah Sacks, Peoplemag, 21 Feb. 2024
Danvers is shown laughing with her once estranged stepdaughter, a relationship on the mend.
—Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY, 19 Feb. 2024
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, Sacramento Bee, 31 Jan. 2024
Cori Broadus, Snoop Dogg’s 24-year-old daughter, is on the mend after suffering a stroke last week.
—Alexandra Del Rosario, Los Angeles Times, 25 Jan. 2024
Snoop Dogg and Shanté Broadus’ daughter Cori Broadus is on the mend after experiencing a severe stroke last Thursday.
—Larisha Paul, Rolling Stone, 24 Jan. 2024
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.
Dictionary Entries Near mend
Cite this Entry
“Mend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/mend. Accessed 18 Apr. 2024.
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