contend
To be in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fightTo be in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.
» They are contending for the prize.
Meaning
5 senses(intransitive)To be in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.
streiten, sich auseinandersetzen, ringen mit
соперничатьsoperničatʹ
змага́тисяzmahátysja
(intransitive)To struggle or exert oneself to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.
17th century, John Dryden, Epistle III to the Lady Castlemain You sit above, and see vain men below / Contend for what you only can bestow.
verteidigen, festhalten an, ringen um
боро́тьсяborótʹsja
боро́тисяborótysja
(intransitive)To be in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.
sich einsetzen für, argumentieren, streiten für
утвержда́тьutverždátʹ
спереча́тисяsperečátysja, наполяга́тиnapoljaháty
(intransitive)To believe (something is reasonable) and argue (for it); to advocate.
In this paper the author contends that no useful results can be obtained if this method is used.
vorbringen, fest behaupten, die Ansicht vertreten
To try to cope with a difficulty or problem.
- maintain or assert
- be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight
- have an argument about something
- to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation
Examples
20 sentencesThey are contending for the prize.
Several teams are contending for the prize.
Кілька команд змагаються за приз. — mkazarian
ruНесколько команд борются за приз. — odexed
He contends that primitive life once existed on Mars.
He had to contend against physical suffering.
The flyweight champion contended with a strong challenger.
Translations
5 languagesBy meaning 3
By meaning 3
By meaning 4
Origin
From Middle English contenden, borrowed from Old French contendre, from Latin contendere (From Middle English contenden, borrowed from Old French contendre, from Latin contendere (“to stretch out, extend, strive after, contend”), from com- (“together”) + tendere (“to stretch”); see tend, and compare attend, extend, intend, subtend.
Wiktionary, CC BY-SA 4.0 · source
Forms
contends, contending, contended, contendedSynonyms
26 synonyms- maintain or assert:postulate
- be engaged in a fight; carry on a fight:fightstruggle
- have an argument about something:arguedebatefence
- to make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation:contestrepugn
- compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others:competevie
- succeed in doing, achieving, or producing (something) with the limited or inadequate means available:copeget bymake outmake dograppledealmanage
Word family
8 related wordsLessons for this word
3 lessons- A1Present simple — Because it is a verb
- A1Past simple, regular verbs — Because of its past form
- A2Present perfect: introduction — Because of its past participle