contend
C1Formal, Academic, Journalistic
Definition
Meaning
to struggle or compete against difficulties or opponents; to assert or argue a position.
To engage in a contest, rivalry, or struggle; to assert something as a position in an argument; to cope with a difficult situation.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
Often implies a struggle against something formidable or a sustained effort. When used with 'that', it introduces a argued opinion or claim.
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. Slightly more common in American political/journalistic discourse.
Connotations
In both varieties, carries connotations of effort, difficulty, and competition.
Frequency
Moderate frequency in formal contexts; low in casual speech.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] contend with [NP][NP] contend for [NP][NP] contend that [CLAUSE][NP] contend against [NP]Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “contend for the crown”
- “contend with one's own demons”
- “a force to be contended with”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used to describe market competition or dealing with challenges: 'The firm must contend with rising supply costs.'
Academic
Used to assert a thesis or argument: 'The author contends that the data has been misinterpreted.'
Everyday
Less common; used for significant difficulties: 'We're contending with a major leak in the roof.'
Technical
Used in legal contexts (to contend a point) and sports reporting (to contend for a title).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Three teams are contending for the championship this season.
- She had to contend with dreadful weather during the expedition.
- Historians contend that the treaty was fundamentally flawed.
- The minister contended against fierce opposition in the debate.
American English
- Several candidates are contending in the primary election.
- Small businesses contend with complex regulations daily.
- The defense attorney contended that the evidence was circumstantial.
- The team will contend for a national title this year.
adjective
British English
- The contending factions reached a fragile truce.
- He is the contending champion in this year's tournament.
American English
- The contending arguments were presented to the jury.
- She is a contending force in the political arena.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- The two brothers often contend for their father's attention.
- She had to contend with a lot of traffic to get here.
- The company must contend with increasing competition from abroad.
- Many experts contend that the policy will do more harm than good.
- The theory contends that social structures are primarily shaped by economic forces.
- As a mayor, she constantly contended with bureaucratic inertia and budget shortfalls.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a TENnis match where players are in a CONTEst. They CONtend for the win, putting in great TENsion and effort.
Conceptual Metaphor
ARGUMENT IS WAR / DIFFICULTY IS AN OPPONENT (e.g., 'contend with inflation', 'contend that she is wrong').
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Not 'содержать' (to contain). Closer to 'бороться', 'оспаривать', 'утверждать'.
- Avoid using for simple 'say' or 'think'; it implies argument and effort.
Common Mistakes
- Using 'contend about' instead of 'contend with/for/that'.
- Using in place of simpler verbs like 'say' or 'think' in informal contexts.
- Incorrect: 'I contend to go home.' Correct: 'I contend that we should go home.'
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'contend' used CORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, it is more common in formal, academic, journalistic, and professional contexts. In everyday conversation, simpler words like 'deal with', 'compete', or 'argue' are often used instead.
'Contend with' means to struggle against or cope with a problem or opponent. 'Contend for' means to compete in order to win something (e.g., a prize, title, position).
Rarely. It is almost always transitive, requiring an object introduced by 'with', 'for', 'against', or a 'that' clause. An intransitive use like 'The teams contended fiercely' is possible but less common.
It is primarily a verb. The related adjective is 'contending' (e.g., the contending teams). There is no common noun form directly from 'contend'; 'contender' is the agent noun.
Collections
Part of a collection
Advanced Academic Verbs
C2 · 49 words · Sophisticated verbs for scholarly discourse.