contend

contend — verb

1. to take part in a competition or race, trying to defeat others and win a prize,

1.verbintransitiveB2
Definition

to take part in a competition or race, trying to defeat others and win a prize, title, or position.

Example

Three candidates are contending for the party's presidential nomination.

contend + for + [position / nomination]

Local shops contend fiercely with big supermarkets for the same customers.

contend + with + noun + for + noun

Common collocations
  • contend for a title
  • contend for power
  • contend against an opponent
  • contend with a rival
  • fiercely contend
  • successfully contend
Synonyms
  • compete

    Most general term; 'compete' is slightly less formal than 'contend' and more common in everyday speech.

  • vie

    More literary or formal; suggests eager rivalry over a limited resource, often used with 'for'.

  • struggle

    Emphasises difficulty and effort rather than formal competition; can be used with 'against' for adversity.

  • strive

    Focuses on effort and determination rather than direct rivalry; often used with 'for' or 'to do something'.

Antonyms
  • surrender

    To give up instead of competing; opposite of striving to win.

  • withdraw

    To pull out of a competition rather than contending in it.

Grammar Patterns

contend + for/against/with + noun phrase

Usage Note

Intransitive — always takes a preposition (for, against, with). Common in politics, sports, and business contexts when describing rivalry.

Common Mistakes

He contended the championship.
He contended for the championship.
This sense is intransitive and needs a preposition.
Our team will contend them in the final.
Our team will contend against them in the final.
Use 'against' when naming the opponent directly.

2. to express a firm belief about a fact or situation, especially when involved in

2.verbtransitiveB2
Definition

to express a firm belief about a fact or situation, especially when involved in a disagreement or formal debate.

Example

Many climate scientists contend that human activity is warming the planet.

contend + that-clause for asserting a fact in debate

The defence lawyer contended that the witness had changed their story several times.

Common collocations
  • contend that
  • strongly contend
  • rightly contend
  • critics contend
  • supporters contend
  • the article contends
Synonyms
  • assert

    Very similar in register and strength; 'assert' may sound slightly more forceful, while 'contend' suggests the claim is part of a broader debate.

  • claim

    Less formal; 'claim' can be used even when the statement is unproven or doubtful, whereas 'contend' carries more conviction.

  • maintain

    Emphasises holding a position over time, often despite opposition or counter-arguments.

  • argue

    Suggests providing reasoning or evidence, while 'contend' focuses more on the act of stating a position firmly.

Antonyms
  • deny

    To state that something is not true; the direct opposite of asserting a claim.

  • refute

    To prove a statement wrong using evidence; a stronger opposite than 'deny'.

Grammar Patterns

contend + that-clause

Usage Note

Frequently used in formal or academic writing. The subject is often a person, organisation, or document (report, study, article). Stronger than 'think' or 'believe' — implies confidence and often a willingness to defend the claim.

Common Mistakes

I contend that it is raining outside.
I think it is raining outside.
'Contend' is too strong and formal for trivial, everyday observations.
She contended about the issue.
She contended that the issue was important.
When expressing a claim, 'contend' requires a that-clause, not 'about'.
Phrasal verbs

contend with someone/something

phrasal verb

to have to deal with a problem, difficulty, or unpleasant situation that you cannot avoid.

New teachers often have to contend with large class sizes and very limited resources.

The rescue team had to contend with thick fog and freezing temperatures as they climbed the mountain.

contend with

phrasal verb

To deal with a difficult situation or person.

Maya had to contend with heavy traffic on her way to work.

How did the team contend with the sudden loss of their coach?

Word family

Synonym discussion

Sense: verb/1

All four words describe trying to achieve something, but they differ in focus and formality. 'Compete' is the most general and neutral term — a company can compete in a market, and a child can compete in a spelling bee. 'Contend' (the headword) is more formal and often suggests a direct, organised rivalry with a specific prize or position at stake. 'Vie' has a literary or journalistic tone and implies eager, sometimes urgent rivalry over something desirable ('rival cities vying for the Olympic bid'). 'Strive' shifts the focus away from defeating others and onto personal effort and determination ('striving for excellence'). 'Struggle' adds a sense of difficulty or hardship — you struggle against obstacles or opponents that make success hard. In everyday conversation, 'compete' is the safest choice; 'contend' and 'vie' belong in more formal writing, while 'struggle' works well when the emphasis is on how hard the task is.

compete ↗viestrive ↗struggle ↗

Common collocations

Nouns

Adverbs

Phrases

  • contend for a title
  • contend against an opponent
  • contend with a problem

Prepositions

Etymology

LatinFrenchEnglish

From Latin 'contendere' — formed from 'con-' (together) and 'tendere' (to stretch, aim, strive). The original Latin meaning was 'to stretch out, strain, strive after', combining the idea of reaching towards something with the energy of competition. It passed through Old French 'contendre' before entering Middle English in the 15th century. The two modern senses — competing and asserting — both preserve the original notion of tension and effort: either straining against rivals or straining to make a point in argument.