verb
Uncommon
fend
FEHND
Fend (verb) means to look after or provide for oneself, without relying on others. Example: “After his parents passed, he had to fend for himself at sixteen.”
verb
1
To look after or provide for oneself, without relying on others.
"After his parents passed, he had to fend for himself at sixteen."
2
To ward off or push away, usually with "off."
"She fended off three takeover bids in as many years."
"He fends, he blocks, too skillful to be downed."
— Luo Guanzhong, translated by Moss Roberts (1999)
How to use fend
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo take care of yourself, or to block/deflect something unwanted.
Common pairings
fend for yourself
fend off an attack
fend off questions
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Word forms
- Plural
- fends
- Third person singular
- fends
- Past tense
- fended
Fill the gap
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After his parents passed, he had to _____ for himself at sixteen.
Etymology
A shortened form of Middle English "defenden" ("to defend"), from Latin defendo.
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for fend
See all rhymes for fend →Frequently asked questions
What does “fend” mean?
The word “fend” means to look after or provide for oneself, without relying on others. In plain terms, to take care of yourself, or to block/deflect something unwanted.
How do you pronounce “fend”?
“Fend” is pronounced FEHND (/ˈfɛnd/ in IPA).
How do you use “fend” in a sentence?
Here is “fend” used in a sentence: “After his parents passed, he had to fend for himself at sixteen.”
What part of speech is “fend”?
“Fend” is a verb.
Where does the word “fend” come from?
The word “fend” comes from Latin. A shortened form of Middle English "defenden" ("to defend"), from Latin defendo.
Is “fend” a common word?
“Fend” is an uncommon word in modern English.
How many meanings does “fend” have?
“Fend” has 2 distinct senses listed in this dictionary. The most common is: to look after or provide for oneself, without relying on others.
