contend

verb

con·​tend kən-ˈtend 

contended; contending; contends

intransitive verb

1

: to strive or vie in contest or rivalry or against difficulties : struggle

contended with the problems of municipal government

will contend for the championship this year

2

: to strive in debate : argue

transitive verb

1

: maintain, assert

contended that he was right

contends that the new law would help only the wealthy

2

: to struggle for : contest

She contended every point, objected to every request …

—Margaret Mead

Synonyms of contend

• compete

Examples of contend in a Sentence

These people contend that they have earned the right to the land.

The team is expected to contend for the championship this year.

Recent Examples on the Web

Hernandez, who has been at the center of a national controversy for competing in girls' competitions dating back to last May, will now contend for the state title in girls' long jump, high jump and triple jump on Saturday evening. —Jackson Thompson Outkick, FOXNews.com, 30 May 2026

Attorneys for the city unsuccessfully fought efforts to make the lawsuit a class action, contending those affected didn’t have enough in common because they were issued varying types of citations. —David Garrick, San Diego Union-Tribune, 30 May 2026

Democrats contend that the new map is racially gerrymandered to squeeze more Black voters -- who tend to be registered Democrats -- into a single district. —Jack Brook, Arkansas Online, 30 May 2026

Critics contend that the country’s poverty rate sharply increased as Milei slashed welfare spending, devalued the country’s currency and rolled back labor rights as job losses mounted and as pension payments plummeted. —Daniel Rivero, Miami Herald, 30 May 2026

Word History

Etymology

Middle English contenden, borrowed from Anglo-French & Latin; Anglo-French contendre, going back to Latin contendere "to draw tight, strain, make an effort, strive, compete," from con- con- + tendere "to extend outward, stretch, spread out, aim (at a purpose)" — more at tender entry 3

First Known Use

15th century, in the meaning defined at intransitive sense 1

Phrases Containing contend

• a lot to contend with
• contend with

Rhymes for contend

• amend
• append
• ascend
• attend
• backend
• befriend
• boyfriend
• commend
• compend
• defend
• depend
• descend

Kids Definition

contend

verb

con·​tend kən-ˈtend 

1

: compete

2

: to try hard to deal with

many problems to contend with

3

: to argue or state earnestly

contend that my opinion is right

contender noun