fended; fending; fends
1
: defend
2
: to keep or ward off : repel
—often used with off
fend off an invader
3
dialectal British
: to provide for : support
chiefly Scotland
: an effort or attempt especially for oneself
Examples of fend in a Sentence
Verb
learned to use humor to fend herself from criticism
Recent Examples on the Web
Giana Levy, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
When we are done making babies, we’re left to fend for ourselves.
—Kara Nesvig, Parents, 18 Sep. 2025
Michael Marot, Baltimore Sun, 22 Jan. 2023
The party is trying to protect a razor-thin majority in the Senate and fend of GOP advances in the House of Representatives.
—Ovetta Wiggins, Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2022
See All Example Sentences for fend
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Verb
Why does Jake feel the need to save his brother and not leave him to fend for himself?
—Giana Levy, Variety, 20 Sep. 2025
When we are done making babies, we’re left to fend for ourselves.
—Kara Nesvig, Parents, 18 Sep. 2025
Noun
Zach Edey finished with 24 points and 16 rebounds and Braden Smith made two free throws with 3.9 seconds left to help No. 3 Purdue fend off Maryland’s furious second-half charge for a 58-55 victory.
—Michael Marot, Baltimore Sun, 22 Jan. 2023
The party is trying to protect a razor-thin majority in the Senate and fend of GOP advances in the House of Representatives.
—Ovetta Wiggins, Washington Post, 29 Oct. 2022
See All Example Sentences for fend
Cite this Entry
“Fend.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/fend. Accessed 22 Sep. 2025.
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