# contend

Pronunciation: US say "kuhn-TEND" /kənˈtɛnd/; UK

## Verb

1. To deal with or work to overcome a difficulty or problem.
   - Simple: To work hard to deal with a problem or hard situation.
   - _Rescue teams had to contend with freezing temperatures and high winds._
   - _Small businesses contend with rising costs and tight margins._
2. To be in opposition with another; to contest, quarrel, or fight.
   - Simple: To fight or argue against another person or group.
   - _Several candidates contend for the party's nomination each election._
   - _The brothers contended bitterly over their father's estate._
3. To maintain or argue that something is true or reasonable; to advocate a position.
   - Simple: To say strongly that you think something is true.
   - _Critics contend that the new policy will hurt low-income families._
   - _The author contends that early humans cooked their food much earlier than once believed._
4. To engage in debate or dispute; to argue back and forth over a question.
   - Simple: To argue or debate with another person about something.
   - _Theologians have long contended over the precise meaning of the passage._
   - _The two economists contend openly in academic journals._
5. To struggle or exert oneself in order to gain, keep, or defend something.
   - Simple: To work hard to win, keep, or protect something.
   - _A handful of firms contend for every government contract._
   - _The garrison contended fiercely to hold the fortress through winter._

## Origin

From Middle English contenden, borrowed from Old French contendre, from Latin contendere ("to stretch out, strive after, contend"), formed from com- ("together") plus tendere ("to stretch").

Source: DictionaryAI, https://dictionaryai.com/define/contend (written from Wiktionary data, CC BY-SA 4.0: https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/4.0/).