verb

contend

to compete, to assert, to deal with

Three teams are contending for the title.

Three teams are competing for the title.

She contended that the new law would be a disaster.

She asserted that the new law would be a disaster.

They had to contend with difficult weather conditions.

They had to deal with difficult weather conditions.

((for sth.)) to compete for something Three teams are contending for the title.

((that ...)) to assert that something is true She contended that she was right.

((with sth.)) to deal with a difficult situation They had to contend with many problems.

Synonyms: compete, argue, face; Antonyms: agree, surrender.

From Latin `com-` ('with') + `tendere` ('to stretch'). The original sense is 'to strive together'.

Imagine two contestants in a 'con-test' who are 'tend-ing' to pull a rope against each other.

This page is designed for learning support. Please use it as a learning reference, not as a formal reference.