contendcon‧tend /kənˈtend/ ●○○ verb 
Three armed groups are contending for power. Inevitably, fights break out between the members of contending groups.2[transitive] to argue or state that something is true SYN insistcontend (that) Some astronomers contend that the universe may be younger than previously thought.contend with something phrasal verb to have to deal with something difficult or unpleasant SYN cope with: The rescue team also had bad weather conditions to contend with.
WORD ORIGINcontend
Origin:
1400-1500 Old French contendre, from Latin contendere, from com- ( ➔ COM-) + tendere ‘to stretch’VERB TABLE
contend
| Simple Form | ||
| Present | I, you, we, they | contend |
| he, she, it | contends | |
| Past | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | contended |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have contended |
| he, she, it | has contended | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had contended |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will contend |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have contended |
| Continuous Form | ||
| Present | I | am contending |
| he, she, it | is contending | |
| you, we, they | are contending | |
| Past | I, he, she, it | was contending |
| you, we, they | were contending | |
| Present perfect | I, you, we, they | have been contending |
| he, she, it | has been contending | |
| Past perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | had been contending |
| Future | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will be contending |
| Future perfect | I, you, he, she, it, we, they | will have been contending |
EXAMPLES FROM OTHER DICTIONARIES
- The government contended that most of the refugees were fleeing poverty, not persecution.
- But they have to do more than contend.
- First Bank officials, however, contend they will find other means to bolster earnings and maintain their projections.
- I know the charms of my rival are too powerful for me to contend with.
- Proponents for moving Lindbergh to Miramar contend that the 24, 000-acre Naval base contains a much better safety zone.
- These ten programs contend for a limited number of real and symbolic resources.
- They contend that the commissioner is required by law to enforce the anti-redlining regulation, regardless of personal preference.
THESAURUS
to say that something is true, even though it has not been proved: · He claims that he didn’t see anything.· She claims to be a descendant of Charles Dickens.
to claim that someone did something wrong or illegal, although you do not give any proof: · It is alleged that he murdered his wife.· Patients allege that the two firms failed to warn doctors about the dangers of taking the drugs over a long period.
to repeatedly say that something is true, especially when other people do not believe you: · He continued to maintain his innocence, even after he was sent to prison.· My mother always maintains that I learned to talk at six months.
to say very firmly that something is true: · She insists that Tom was there, although he denies it.· Turkey insists that there is more than enough water in the two rivers for all three countries.
formal to state that something is true – used especially in formal writing when reporting someone’s opinion: · They assert that children work better on their own.· The Environment Minister asserted that one third of the country’s cities had major pollution problems.
formal to claim that something is true, especially when other people disagree with you: · Lawyers contend that his back problems were due to an existing injury, not the accident.· It is possible, as Kennedy contends, that her medical condition is caused by her work.
COLLOCATIONS FROM THE ENTRY The rescue team also had bad weather conditions to contend with.COLLOCATIONS FROM THE CORPUSADVERB
1[intransitive] to compete against someone in order to gain somethingcontend for The rescue team also had bad weather conditions to contend with.· He also contends that Democrats have not produced a bumper crop of congressional candidates this year.· He also contends he is paying taxes on land the church uses as its own.· Wolfe also contends that Sulloway was culturally biased by assuming all families throughout history have had the same structure.· Government lawyers also contended the industry targeted its advertising toward children as potential new smokers.· They also contend that their operation largely recycles bay water and is not introducing new pollutants to the harbor.
NOUN· A sequence of events since last spring made a showdown over these issues almost inevitable, analysts contend.
· The authorities may contend that they demonstrate their determination to find extremists in the ranks.· Federal authorities contend this was a lie.· The local authority contend the correct date is when the demand for payment was served or when it became operative.
· If it were as bad as its critics contend, our society would be teetering on the edge of extinction.· The critics contend that competition could promote better and cheaper service.· Other critics contend officials at Johnson Space Center did too little, too late, to deal with exploding costs.· Last week, the commission agreed to an internal reorganization plan that critics contend will weaken consumer involvement in future regulatory decisions.
· The defense contends the fight was an isolated case.· The defense contends that linking those dots properly reveals a picture of Simpson as an innocent man wrongly accused.· The defense contends the video is proof the socks were planted because there are no socks on the tape.
· However, the Czech government contended that it could not afford to stop selling arms until substitute industries were in place.· Five months later, the Maharashtra government suspended work, contending the project was too expensive.· The federal government contends that the trial judge erred on 38 points of his ruling.· Attorneys for the government contended that the agency must have the flexibility to change course when new evidence emerges.
· The group contends the helicopters will increase noise and pollution, while being a safety risk.· Employers and business groups contend that a higher minimum wage would saddle them with higher labor costs.
· Government lawyers also contended the industry targeted its advertising toward children as potential new smokers.· Jones's lawyers contend that the case was intended only to shield presidents from lawsuits over official acts.
· Perhaps, as officials contend, faces will be saved by a last-minute rush to meet the new deadline.· First Bank officials, however, contend they will find other means to bolster earnings and maintain their projections.
· That conclusion irritated Sheehan and others who contend that scholarship itself is pertinent to public service.
· In view of their greater interest in Jarrad, the plaintiffs contended that they had been unfairly prejudiced.· The plaintiffs contend he is worth $ 15. 7 million because he could trade on his fame to make money.· The plaintiffs contended that the operative figure was the rent of £20,000, entitling them to £2,000.
· Such a suit would contend that the pension funds relied on deceptive financial statements in making the loan.
Three armed groups are contending for power. Inevitably, fights break out between the members of contending groups.2[transitive] to argue or state that something is true SYN insistcontend (that) Some astronomers contend that the universe may be younger than previously thought.contend with something phrasal verb to have to deal with something difficult or unpleasant SYN cope with: The rescue team also had bad weather conditions to contend with.