contend

C1 Topic:Actions & Processes

US /kənˈtɛnd/ See IPA manual

Freq #20105

Meanings

1

verb
To state firmly that something is true, especially in an argument.

The professor contended that communism had no future.
2

verb
To compete with others in order to win something.

Three teams are contending for the championship this season.
3

verb
To deal with a difficult problem or situation.

Drivers had to contend with heavy snow on the mountain roads.

Verb forms

Verb forms are not available for this word yet.

Thesaurus

Synonyms

1 verb · to state firmly that... assert maintain argue

2 verb · to compete with others in... compete vie

3 verb · to deal with a difficult... cope struggle

Word family

Forms contendedcontendingcontends

Derived forms contendinglynoncontendinguncontendeduncontending

Related forms contender contention contentious

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.

*tend- Proto-Indo-European contenden Middle English contendre Old French contendere Latin

View etymology graph ->

Topics

Actions & Processes

External links

# contend

**Type:** Word
**Level:** C1
**Part of speech:** verb
**IPA (US):** /kənˈtɛnd/
**Frequency rank:** 20105

## Meanings
1. To state firmly that something is true, especially in an argument.
2. To compete with others in order to win something.
3. To deal with a difficult problem or situation.

## Examples
- The professor contended that communism had no future.
- Three teams are contending for the championship this season.
- Drivers had to contend with heavy snow on the mountain roads.

## Derived Forms
- contendingly
- noncontending
- uncontended
- uncontending

## Related Forms
- contender
- contention
- contentious

## Roots and Affixes
- Root: *tend-
- Root: contenden
- Root: contendre
- Root: contendere

## 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.

## AI Etymology
Contend comes 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. The historical chain includes *tend- (Proto-Indo-European), contenden (Middle English), contendre (Old French), and contendere (Latin). The surrounding word family includes derived forms such as contendingly, noncontending, uncontended, and uncontending and related forms such as contender, contention, and contentious. In present use it covers to state firmly that something is true, especially in an argument, to compete with others in order to win something, and to deal with a difficult problem or situation.

## Topics
- Actions & Processes

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