mend
B1Neutral. Used in both formal and informal contexts, though slightly more common in everyday speech than formal writing.
Definition
Meaning
To repair something that is broken, damaged, or torn, restoring it to a functional or whole state.
To improve a situation, relationship, or behavior; to recover from an illness or injury; to restore to a proper or correct state.
Linguistics
Semantic Notes
"Mend" often implies a relatively simple, practical repair, especially of everyday items like clothes, fences, or nets. For complex machinery or electronics, "repair" or "fix" is more common. It can also describe healing (mend a broken leg) and improving situations (mend one's ways).
Dialectal Variation
British vs American Usage
Differences
Usage is largely identical. British English may use 'mend' slightly more frequently for physical repairs (e.g., 'mend the roof'), while American English might favor 'fix' in casual speech, but 'mend' is still standard.
Connotations
In both, it carries a positive connotation of restoration and care. The idiom 'on the mend' (recovering from illness) is common in both varieties.
Frequency
"Mend" is less frequent than the more general "fix" or "repair" in American English, but remains a core, well-understood word.
Vocabulary
Collocations
Grammar
Valency Patterns
[NP] mends [NP] (He mended the fence).[NP] mends (The fracture is mending).[NP] mend [NP] with [NP] (She mended the tear with a patch).Vocabulary
Synonyms
Strong
Neutral
Weak
Vocabulary
Antonyms
Phrases
Idioms & Phrases
- “Mend fences (repair a damaged relationship).”
- “On the mend (recovering from illness or injury).”
- “Mend one's ways (improve one's behavior).”
Usage
Context Usage
Business
Used metaphorically: 'The new CEO is trying to mend relations with investors.'
Academic
Rare in hard sciences; appears in social sciences/history: 'The treaty was an attempt to mend the political rift.'
Everyday
Very common: 'I need to mend this tear in my jeans.', 'He's finally on the mend after the flu.'
Technical
Limited; used in medicine ('the bone is mending well') and traditional crafts (cobbling, sewing).
Examples
By Part of Speech
verb
British English
- Can you mend this puncture on my bicycle tyre?
- It took weeks to mend the broken fence after the storm.
- They're trying to mend their strained relationship.
American English
- I need to mend the hole in this screen door.
- His injury is mending slowly but surely.
- The mayor promised to mend the city's infrastructure.
adverb
British English
- N/A ("mend" is not standardly used as an adverb).
American English
- N/A ("mend" is not standardly used as an adverb).
adjective
British English
- The mending process for the antique vase was intricate.
- She put on her mending glasses to thread the needle.
American English
- He had a mending knee that kept him from running.
- The mending kit contained thread and patches.
Examples
By CEFR Level
- My grandmother can mend my torn shirt.
- The toy is broken, but Dad will mend it.
- Is your leg mending well after the fall?
- He learned to mend a fishing net during the summer job.
- After the argument, they slowly began to mend their friendship.
- The economy shows signs of mending.
- The artisan was commissioned to mend the priceless tapestry using traditional techniques.
- Diplomatic efforts were made to mend the long-standing rift between the two nations.
- It's time to mend your ways if you want to keep your job.
- The political party sought to mend its fractured coalition ahead of the election.
- While the physical wounds had mended, the psychological scars remained.
- The novel explores themes of a family attempting to mend its dysfunctional dynamics.
Learning
Memory Aids
Mnemonic
Think of a FRIEND who helps you MEND your broken things. A mending friend.
Conceptual Metaphor
RELATIONSHIPS/HEALTH ARE OBJECTS THAT CAN BE REPAIRED (mend a friendship, on the mend).
Watch out
Common Pitfalls
Translation Traps (for Russian speakers)
- Do not confuse with 'to improve' in all contexts. 'Mend' is specific to repairing/restoring. 'Исправить ошибку' is 'correct a mistake', not 'mend a mistake'.
- "Mend" for clothes is specific, like 'зашивать', 'чинить'. The more general 'чинить' for machines is often 'fix' or 'repair'.
Common Mistakes
- Incorrect: 'I will mend my computer.' (Use 'fix' or 'repair').
- Incorrect: 'She mended her exam results.' (Use 'improved' or 'corrected').
Practice
Quiz
In which sentence is 'mend' used INCORRECTLY?
FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions
'Mend' often suggests a simple repair of a tear, hole, or break, especially in fabric, relationships, or health. 'Fix' is the most general and colloquial. 'Repair' is more formal and often used for complex items like cars or machinery.
Yes, commonly. You can mend a relationship, mend your ways (behavior), or mend a rift (disagreement). It metaphorically extends the idea of repairing something broken.
It is neutral and common in both registers. You can use it in a doctor's report ('The patient is on the mend') or in casual conversation ('My cold is finally on the mend').
The primary noun form is 'mending' (the act of repairing, e.g., 'a basket of mending'). There is also 'mend' as a noun, but it's rare (e.g., 'a clean mend in the fabric').