Word Pronunciation & Dictionary

contend

/kənˈtɛnd/

Word Rarity Rare

Frequency: Zipf frequency 3.56 in modern English

Syllables: con-tend
IPA: /kənˈtɛnd/

10

Scrabble Score

7

Letters

2

Syllables

6

Unique Chars

Meaning

verb

To be in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.

Intransitive verb

verb

To struggle or exert oneself to obtain or retain possession of, or to defend.

Intransitive verb

verb

To be in debate; to engage in discussion; to dispute; to argue.

Intransitive verb

verb

To believe (something is reasonable) and argue (for it); to advocate.

Intransitive verb

verb

To try to cope with a difficulty or problem.

Example Sentences

"The Lord said unto me, Distress not the Moabites, neither contend with them in battle."
"For never two such kingdoms did contend without much fall of blood."
"2011, Osaiah "Ike" Wilson III, James J.F. Forrest, Handbook of Defence Politics the armies of Syria and Lebanon lack the capability to contend with the Israeli army, as demonstrated during the course of the First Lebanon War."
"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."
"God has entrusted something to the church, and it is the church's job to contend for it, even unto death"
"these simple ideas are far from those innate principles which some contend for"

Etymology

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.

Origin

Source language: Middle English

Word Breakdown

Root: *tend-, contenden, contendre, contendere

Usage

Intransitive verb

Inflected Forms

contends (present, singular) contending (participle, present) contended (participle, past) contended (past)

Derived Forms

contendingly noncontending uncontended uncontending

Phrases

contend with

Frequently Paired Words

contender contention contentious

Synonyms

fight combat vie oppose struggle strive emulate contest litigate dispute debate assert

Rhymes With

end high-end friend send dead-end spend recommend tend attend trend defend extend

Questions

How do you pronounce contend?: The recorded pronunciation is /kənˈtɛnd/.
What does contend mean?: To be in opposition; to contest; to dispute; to vie; to quarrel; to fight.
Where does contend come from?: It is traced to Middle English.

How to pronounce contend

Open the pronunciation page — Open the Speakur entry for “contend”.
Read the phonetic spelling — Read the IPA spelling (/kənˈtɛnd/) so you know which sounds to aim for.
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