mend
mehnd
Mend (verb) means to repair something that is broken, torn, or damaged. Example: “She mended the torn shirt with a needle and thread.”
verb
1
To repair something that is broken, torn, or damaged.
"She mended the torn shirt with a needle and thread."
"A local cobbler mended his old boots."
2
To put right a fault, error, or bad situation; to improve or correct it.
"They agreed to mend their differences before the wedding."
"He promised to mend his ways after the warning."
3
Of an illness, injury, or person: to heal or get better.
"The broken bone slowly mended over the summer."
noun
1
A repair, or the place where something has been repaired.
"You can barely see the mend in the sleeve."
2
Used in the phrase "on the mend": recovering, getting better after illness.
"She had the flu last week but she's on the mend now."
How to use mend
Learner’s notesIn plain EnglishTo fix something broken, or to get better after being unwell or estranged.
Common mistake
Don't confuse with "amend" (change a document or law) — "mend" is for repairing objects, health, or relationships.
Easily confused with
Common pairings
mend a fence
mend one's ways
on the mend
mend a broken heart
Vocabulary Flow
Build your vocabulary from words like mend.
Vocabulary Flow serves the next word, and the next — meaning, pronunciation and an example each time. Practice at your level, or learn English in your own language.
Start vocabulary practice
Word forms
- Plural
- mends
- Third person singular
- mends
- Past tense
- mended
- Archaic forms
- mendest, mendedst, mendeth
Fill the gap
Can you complete this real example?
She _____ the torn shirt with a needle and thread.
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").
Synonyms
View more →Antonyms
Related words
Rhymes for mend
See all rhymes for 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.
