verb
Uncommon
amend
uh-MEHND
Amend (verb) means to make formal changes to a document, law, or agreement in order to correct or improve it. Example: “Congress voted to amend the bill before the final reading.”
verb
1
To make formal changes to a document, law, or agreement in order to correct or improve it.
"Congress voted to amend the bill before the final reading."
"They amended the contract to include a longer notice period."
2
To improve or correct something more generally.
"He promised to amend his behavior after the warning."
How to use amend
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo officially change something, usually to fix or improve it.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "emend," a rarer, more technical word used specifically for correcting text.
Easily confused with
emend
Common pairings
amend a law
amend the constitution
amend a contract
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Word forms
- Third person singular
- amends
- Past tense
- amended
- Archaic forms
- amendest, amendedst, amendeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
Congress voted to _____ the bill before the final reading.
Etymology
From Old French amender, ultimately from Latin emendare, "to remove a fault" — the same root as "emend."
Synonyms
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Related words
Frequently asked questions
What does “amend” mean?
The word “amend” means to make formal changes to a document, law, or agreement in order to correct or improve it. In plain terms, to officially change something, usually to fix or improve it.
How do you pronounce “amend”?
“Amend” is pronounced uh-MEHND (/əˈmɛnd/ in IPA).
How do you use “amend” in a sentence?
Here is “amend” used in a sentence: “Congress voted to amend the bill before the final reading.”
What is another word for “amend”?
Words with a similar meaning to “amend” include ameliorate, correct and improve.
What part of speech is “amend”?
“Amend” is a verb.
Where does the word “amend” come from?
The word “amend” comes from Latin. From Old French amender, ultimately from Latin emendare, "to remove a fault" — the same root as "emend.".
Is “amend” a common word?
“Amend” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “amend” have?
“Amend” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to make formal changes to a document, law, or agreement in order to correct or improve it.
What is the difference between "amend" and "emend"?
"Amend" is the everyday word for making formal changes to a document, law, or agreement to correct or improve it, or more generally improving something. "Emend" is a much rarer, more technical term used almost exclusively for correcting errors in a text, such as a manuscript, and is not interchangeable with "amend" in ordinary usage.
What is the difference between "amend" and "revise"?
"Amend" typically refers to making a specific, often formal correction or improvement to something already in effect, such as amending a law or contract. "Revise" suggests a broader review and reworking of a document, which may involve larger structural changes rather than a targeted fix.
How is "amend" used with legal documents like constitutions or contracts?
When applied to laws or agreements, "amend" means to make formal, often officially recorded changes to correct or improve them, as in "amend the constitution" or "amend the terms of the contract." This formal sense is distinct from the more general use of "amend" to mean simply improving one's behavior or ways.
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