mend

14 synonyms and 4 antonyms for mend, grouped by meaning and by how common each one is.

Verb — To repair something that is broken, torn, or damaged.

Synonyms

Everyday swaps

Common words most readers know — safe in any writing.

repair fix doctor restore

Less common

Still standard English, but they carry more weight.

heal fixing darn fixture patch

Rare, literary or technical

Precise, but they will stand out — check the sense before using one.

patch up rectify bushel mending reparation

Synonyms by Meaning

1. verb

To repair something that is broken, torn, or damaged.

“She mended the torn shirt with a needle and thread.”

repair fix patch up heal rectify bushel doctor restore

Opposites

damage break

2. verb

To put right a fault, error, or bad situation; to improve or correct it.

“They agreed to mend their differences before the wedding.”

Opposites

impair

3. verb

Of an illness, injury, or person: to heal or get better.

“The broken bone slowly mended over the summer.”

Opposites

deteriorate

4. noun

A repair, or the place where something has been repaired.

“You can barely see the mend in the sleeve.”

fixing mending darn fix reparation repair fixture patch

How to use mend

The word patterns that sound natural to a native speaker.

mend a fence mend one's ways on the mend mend a broken heart

Etymology

A shortened form of Middle English amenden ("to correct, improve, cure"), from Old French amender, from Latin ēmendāre — literally "to remove a fault," from ex- ("out") plus mendum ("fault, defect").

Full origin of mend →

Frequently asked questions

What does “mend” mean?

The word “mend” means to repair something that is broken, torn, or damaged. In plain terms, to fix something broken, or to get better after being unwell or estranged.

How do you pronounce “mend”?

“Mend” is pronounced mehnd (/mɛnd/ in IPA).

How do you use “mend” in a sentence?

Here is “mend” used in a sentence: “She mended the torn shirt with a needle and thread.”

What part of speech is “mend”?

Depending on how it is used, “mend” can be a verb and a noun.

Where does the word “mend” come from?

The word “mend” comes from Latin. A shortened form of Middle English amenden ("to correct, improve, cure"), from Old French amender, from Latin ēmendāre — literally "to remove a fault," from ex- ("out") plus mendum ("fault, defect").

Is “mend” a common word?

“Mend” is an uncommon word in modern English, usually learned at around the B1 level.

How many meanings does “mend” have?

“Mend” has 5 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to repair something that is broken, torn, or damaged.

People also searched

break doctor damage fix repair restore patch fixing heal darn fixture deteriorate

Nearby words

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