Contend Definition and Meaning
By Tayyaba Rehman & Urooj Arif — Updated on March 5, 2024
Contend means to struggle or compete against difficulties or rivals, or to assert something as a position in an argument. e.g., She had to contend with numerous challenges in her career.
Table of Contents
Contend Definitions
To assert or claim in a debate or argument.
The lawyer contended that her client was innocent.
To engage in a struggle or competition.
The candidates contended for the leadership position.
To vie or compete with others in a contest.
Several teams contend for the trophy each year.
To cope with or manage adverse situations.
She had to contend with severe weather during the expedition.
To face and deal with challenges or opposition.
He contended with difficult circumstances to achieve his goals.
To maintain or uphold a point in an argument.
She contended that the policy needed changes.
To put forward an argument or viewpoint.
He contended that the decision was unfair.
To strive in opposition or against difficulties; struggle
Armies contending for control of territory.
Had to contend with long lines at the airport.
To strive in competition, as in a race; vie
Two runners contending for the lead.
To strive in controversy or debate; dispute.
To assert or maintain
The defense contended that the evidence was inadmissible.
(intransitive) To be in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.
(intransitive) To struggle or exert oneself to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.
(intransitive) To be in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.
(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.
Contend with: To try to cope with a difficulty or problem.
To strive in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.
For never two such kingdoms did contendWithout much fall of blood.
The Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle.
In ambitious strength I didContend against thy valor.
To struggle or exert one's self to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.
You sit above, and see vain men belowContend for what you only can bestow.
To strive in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.
The question which our author would contend for.
Many things he fiercely contended about were trivial.
To struggle for; to contest.
Carthage shall contend the world with Rome.Dryden.
Maintain or assert;
He contended that Communism had no future
Have an argument about something
To make the subject of dispute, contention, or litigation;
They contested the outcome of the race
Compete for something; engage in a contest; measure oneself against others
Come to terms or deal successfully with;
We got by on just a gallon of gas
They made do on half a loaf of bread every day
To struggle or compete for superiority or victory.
Athletes contend for the championship title.
To grapple with a problem or obstacle.
Businesses often contend with market fluctuations.
To strive or exert oneself to achieve something.
She contended tirelessly for social justice.
Contend Snonyms
Argue
To present reasons for or against something.
He argued his point of view in the debate.
Challenge
To invite someone to engage in a competition.
She challenged her friend to a game of chess.
Assert
To state a fact or belief confidently and forcefully.
He asserts that his theory is the most accurate explanation.
Oppose
To resist or fight against someone or something.
The local community opposes the construction of the new highway.
Struggle
To make strenuous efforts against opposition.
She struggled to overcome the obstacles in her path.
Dispute
To engage in argument or debate.
They often dispute over minor issues, making it hard to reach an agreement.
Compete
To take part in a contest or competition.
Athletes from around the world compete in the Olympics.
Vie
To compete eagerly with someone in order to achieve something.
The two companies are vying for dominance in the market.
Defend
To protect from harm or attack.
He defended his title successfully in the championship match.
Wrestle
To engage in a physical or mental struggle.
Philosophers often wrestle with the concept of free will.
Contend Idioms & Phrases
Contend for the top spot
To compete for the highest position or ranking.
Several teams are contending for the top spot in the league.
Contend with the best
To compete or match up with the best in a field.
In the championship, he proved he could contend with the best.
Have much to contend with
To face and deal with multiple challenges.
The new manager has much to contend with, including staff shortages and budget cuts.
Contend for a prize
To compete to win a prize or award.
Athletes from around the world will contend for the gold medal.
Contend with difficulties
To face and deal with challenges or problems.
They had to contend with many difficulties during the project's development.
Contend against odds
To struggle or fight against unfavorable circumstances.
She had to contend against great odds to achieve her dream.
Contend for attention
To strive to be noticed or given attention.
In a crowded market, new products must contend for attention.
Contend for power
To struggle or compete to gain authority or control.
Different factions within the party are contending for power.
Contend for recognition
To strive to be acknowledged or recognized.
Young artists must contend for recognition in a highly competitive industry.
Contend for victory
To compete with the aim of winning.
The final two teams will contend for victory in the championship game.
Contend with oneself
To struggle with one's own thoughts, feelings, or conscience.
He was contending with himself over the right decision to make.
Contend with a problem
To face and attempt to solve a problem.
We have to contend with the problem of declining sales.
Contend with challenges
To face and address various challenges.
The entrepreneur had to contend with numerous challenges in starting the business.
Contend against rivals
To compete or struggle against opponents.
The company is contending against rivals to gain market share.
Contend against the current
To struggle against prevailing trends or opinions.
The author had to contend against the current of popular opinion to get his innovative ideas accepted.
Contend with the situation
To manage or handle a particular situation.
The emergency services had to quickly contend with the situation after the accident.
Contend for a position
To compete for a job or role.
Several candidates are contending for the position of director.
Contend in the market
To compete within a particular market or industry.
New companies have to strategically contend in the market to establish themselves.
Contend with reality
To face and deal with the actual facts or situation.
After the loss, the team had to contend with the reality of their situation.
Contend for a cause
To fight or argue in support of a particular cause.
Activists contend for environmental causes to raise awareness.
Contend Example Sentences
She contended for the gold medal in the Olympics.
The young boxer contended against experienced opponents.
Farmers often contend with unpredictable weather conditions.
They contended for the leading role in the play.
The team contended with numerous injuries throughout the season.
Athletes contended under the scorching sun at the track meet.
The students contended that the test was too hard.
They had to contend with heavy traffic on their journey.
The debaters contended over the topic passionately.
He contended with financial difficulties while starting his business.
He had to contend with a long commute every day.
She contended for her rights in court.
The scientists contended that their findings were accurate.
The two companies contended for the lucrative contract.
She contended against all odds to win the scholarship.
Common Curiosities
What is a stressed syllable in contend?
The stressed syllable in "contend" is the second one: -tend.
How do we divide contend into syllables?
"Contend" is divided into syllables as "con-tend."
Why is it called contend?
"Contend" comes from the Latin "contendere," meaning to stretch out, strive, or struggle, reflecting the effort or competition implied in the word.
How is contend used in a sentence?
Example: "The two athletes will contend for the championship title."
What is the pronunciation of contend?
Contend is pronounced as /kənˈtend/.
What is the root word of contend?
The root word of "contend" is the Latin "contendere."
What is the verb form of contend?
"Contend" itself is the verb form.
What is the third form of contend?
The third form (past participle form) of "contend" is "contended."
What is the singular form of contend?
"Contend" does not have a singular form as it is a verb.
What is the first form of contend?
The first form (present form) of "contend" is "contend."
What part of speech is contend?
"Contend" is a verb.
What is another term for contend?
Another term for "contend" is "compete" or "struggle."
How many syllables are in contend?
There are two syllables in "contend."
Is contend a noun or adjective?
"Contend" is a verb, not a noun or adjective.
Is contend an adverb?
No, "contend" is not an adverb.
Is contend an abstract noun?
"Contend" is a verb, so it cannot be an abstract noun.
Is the word “contend” a Direct object or an Indirect object?
"Contend" is a verb, so it cannot be a direct or indirect object. However, it can have direct and indirect objects in a sentence.
Which vowel is used before contend?
The use of a vowel before "contend" depends on the context of the sentence.
What is the second form of contend?
The second form (past simple form) of "contend" is "contended."
What is the plural form of contend?
"Contend" does not have a plural form as it is a verb.
Is contend a negative or positive word?
"Contend" is neutral; its connotation depends on the context.
What is the opposite of contend?
The opposite of "contend" could be "agree," "concede," or "yield."
Is contend a countable noun?
"Contend" is not a noun; it's a verb.
Which determiner is used with contend?
Determiners are not typically used directly with the verb "contend."
Is contend a collective noun?
"Contend" is not a noun, so it cannot be a collective noun.
Is the contend term a metaphor?
"Contend" can be used metaphorically in various contexts.
Is the word contend imperative?
"Contend" can be used in the imperative form, as in "Contend for your rights."
Which preposition is used with contend?
Common prepositions used with "contend" include "for," "against," and "with."
Which conjunction is used with contend?
Conjunctions like "and," "but," or "or" can be used with "contend," depending on the sentence structure.
Is contend a vowel or consonant?
The word "contend" starts with a consonant.
Is the word contend Gerund?
The gerund form of "contend" is "contending."
Which article is used with contend?
Articles are not used directly with the verb "contend." The use of an article would depend on the noun it accompanies.
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Written by
Tayyaba RehmanTayyaba Rehman is a distinguished writer, currently serving as a primary contributor to askdifference.com. As a researcher in semantics and etymology, Tayyaba's passion for the complexity of languages and their distinctions has found a perfect home on the platform. Tayyaba delves into the intricacies of language, distinguishing between commonly confused words and phrases, thereby providing clarity for readers worldwide.
Co-written by
Urooj ArifUrooj is a skilled content writer at Ask Difference, known for her exceptional ability to simplify complex topics into engaging and informative content. With a passion for research and a flair for clear, concise writing, she consistently delivers articles that resonate with our diverse audience.
